Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei on Monday called the United States the "greatest threat" to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, accusing Washington of undermining the treaty it claims to defend. Speaking at a press briefing, Baghaei argued that threats of military action against Iran's nuclear facilities violate the principles of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and encourage states to reconsider their security policies. "The United States is actually the greatest threat to the nuclear non-proligeration regime," Baghaei said. "The very expression of a threat against a country and the implicit threat that we may use a certain weapon is itself an encouragement to violate the Non-Proliferation Treaty." Baghaei criticized the silence of international institutions, including the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, over what he described as Washington's hostile rhetoric against Tehran. He warned that American threats would compel Iran to strengthen its defensive capabilities. "The threats being raised against us will surely make us more determined to strengthen our capabilities in our own defence," he said. Regarding Iran's nuclear doctrine, Baghaei acknowledged discussions were taking place within Iranian society and the political establishment, linking the debate to years of American pressure and targeted assassinations of individuals associated with Iran's nuclear program. He reiterated that Iran's nuclear program remains absolutely peaceful and has been proven many times. Baghaei confirmed Iran has no immediate plans to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, maintaining that as a member state, Tehran considers itself bound by the treaty's obligations. The NPT, which entered into force in 1970, seeks to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and advance nuclear disarmament. It recognizes five nuclear-weapon states: the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom.