NOVANEWS
Tehran says Israel should subject its nuclear programs to international oversight and that the U.S. as Israel’s main sponsor has the responsibility to halt its nuclear threat to the region.
Iran called on the world community Sunday to pressure Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and subject its nuclear programs to international oversight.
“The world community should put pressure on the Zionist regime (Israel) to join the NPT and allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),” Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said.
Speaking at a conference on nuclear disarmament in Tehran, Salehi called the Israeli nuclear bomb arsenal as the main threat to the Middle East.
Salehi also said the United States as Israel’s main sponsor has the responsibility to halt its nuclear threat to the region.
The two-day Tehran conference was mainly focused on Israel’s policy of nuclear ambiguity and its refusal to neither confirm nor deny the possession of nuclear weapons.
Iran argues that instead of depriving Iran from civil nuclear use, the world powers should focus their attention on Israel, which it says operates in secret.
Tehran insists that its nuclear programs are peaceful, but world powers fear it is using the same technology to develop weapons.
Iran has constantly denied the accusations and says it has the legitimate right to pursue nuclear development, including uranium enrichment, as a NPT signatory and IAEA member.
Iran: Israel nuclear threat to Mideast
Tehran convenes NPT summit, urges international community to pressure Israel into joining Non-Proliferation Treaty
Iran convened its second nuclear summit Sunday and urged the international community to pressure Israel into subjecting its nuclear program to international oversight, as well as join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The convention was held under the banner of “Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for None.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who was first to address the conference, blamed Israel and the United States for being an obstacle en route to a nuclear weapon-free Middle East.
Salehi called the Israeli nuclear arsenal “the main threat to the Middle East,” and rebuked the United States: “Being Israel’s main sponsor… It has the responsibility to halt its nuclear threat to the region.”
The two-day Tehran conference is set to focus mainly on Israel’s policy of nuclear ambiguity and its refusal to neither confirm nor deny its possession of nuclear weapons.
Salehi assured those in attendance that Iran “is always ready for nuclear talks with the UN Security Council.”
He also argued that instead of depriving Iran from civil nuclear energy, world powers should focus on Israel’s “underhanded secrecy.”
