Iran keen on a WMD-free world

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:27:35

Iran's envoy to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei

Iran's Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations says Tehran is determined to help create a world free of weapons of mass destruction.

Mohammad Khazaei made the comment at the session of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on disarmament and international security in New York.

"As the sole victim of chemical weapons at the present juncture, Iran is determined and highly motivated to help create a world free from WMDs," Khazaei said.

Referring to former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons against Iranians during the 1980-88 imposed war, Khazaei said tens of thousands of Iranians were still suffering or dying from the effects of Saddam's chemical weapons.

The envoy also criticized the US double standard toward nuclear disarmament, saying that the US claims to be the pioneer in opposing WMDs even as it supports the role of nuclear weapons in restoring peace and threatens to use such weapons against members of the Non-proliferation Treaty as well.

Khazaei added that the Zionist regime was the only obstacle to a Middle East free of nuclear weapons because it refuses to join the NPT and pursues a secret nuclear program.

On the Iranian nuclear program, the envoy called talks the only solution to the standoff and the IAEA the only qualified authority to verify Iran's case.

AR/GM/BGH

Iran 'calls for a WMDs free world'
Sat, 03 Nov 2007 09:28:37
Iran's ambassador to Spain Davoud Salehi has said Tehran has always called for a world free from weapons of mass destruction (WMDs).

"The Islamic Republic of Iran signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) many years ago and has always demanded its full implementation," Salehi added at a three-day conference on nuclear disarmament held in Madrid on Friday.

He added that certain European countries that oppose Iran's peaceful nuclear program and are exerting pressure on Tehran, have so far failed to take effective steps towards nuclear disarmament.

During the event, the Algerian, Cuban and Moroccan ambassadors to Spain and the UN representative at the conference also slammed the US warmongering policies in Afghanistan and Iraq.

SF/GM/RE