Iran: Nuke disarmament must begin with Israel
Iranian government spokesperson Gholam-Hossein Elham tells press conference ‘dismantling of nuclear arms in Middle East must begin with Zionist entity’; adds: Ban to use weapons of mass destruction should be imposed globally
The spokesperson added that Iran was ‘ideologically opposed’ to the use of nuclear arms.
However, North Korea’s nuclear test has prompted Iran to call on the International Atomic Energy Agency to brace itself for the possibility that all countries would seek nuclear energy for “peaceful purposes.”
Elham said the ban to use weapons of mass destruction should be imposed globally.
“A just balance would remove these (nuclear) threats, and the conquering regime from Jerusalem should be the first in the region to disarm,” he said.
Turning his attention to the North Korean nuclear test, the spokesperson said, “Iran is opposed to any use of weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons. He added that Muslim and other countries would support the superpowers should they decide to disarm.
“No one will benefit from the use of nuclear weapons,” he said.
'US should stop its double-standard policy'
Asked whether the North Korean test would be advantageous to Iran Elham said, “The root of the issue lies in the behavior and mindset of the leaders in the United States and the rest of the superpowers. Unfortunately, they are those who control the Security Council; they possess the arsenals and are taking advantage of the Council to promote their own objectives.”
Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Majlis (Iranian parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told the Iranian News Agency Monday that “the only solution which can put an end to nuclear tests is collective determination of the global community to eradicate proliferation of nuclear weapons.”
“The US should stop its double-standard policy in the world; it is the only country that has resorted to the use of nuclear bombs to massacre innocent civilians and is continuing its current policy in contradiction of Article Six of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT),” he said.
Boroujerdi added: “If countries like Pakistan, India, North Korea and the Zionist regime kept up their nuclear tests, it is because of their non-compliance with international rules and regulations along with their non-membership of NPT.”
“The West should encourage and cooperate with countries, like the Islamic Republic of Iran, which abide by NPT protocol and conduct their activities under the supervision of IAEA in line with international rules and regulations,” he said.
