Salehi: 23,000 Nuclear Warheads Biggest Global Threat

Tehran, Feb 29, IRNA - Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said here on Tuesday that stockpiling of some 23,000 nuclear warheads by the nuclear states is the biggest threat to the world’s sustainable security. According to a report by the ministry’s Information and Press Bureau, he added in his speech at Geneva Disarmament Conference that threats from nuclear warheads will leave profound impact on international security. That’s a source of concern that the owners of such weapons threat other countries including non-nuclear states, he said. Stating that threats from production and use of nuclear weapons are serious, Salehi said that Iran believes that nuclear weapons will have no place in the world order. He also underlined Iran’s decisive resolve to pursue its plan for international disarmament in line with promoting global peace and security. He further expressed hope that the conference will help pave the way for materialization of nuclear disarmament across the world. Pointing out that the world is facing various challenges such as nuclear weapons, poverty and economic crises, Salehi said that no country can claim to be able to counter the threat alone. Security is a collective achievement, he said, calling for cooperation to achieve sustainable security. The minister also said that sustaible security will bring justice and rule of law, he said, complaining that these parameters are being ignored in today’s world. Referring to the global demand for annihilation of nuclear weapons in the past years, Salehi also said that the move indicates international community’s serious resolve for international nuclear disarmament. NPT considers no right for certain countries to stockpile nuclear weapons, he said, noting that double-standard attitude towards the treaty is the most significant threat to NPT. According to the treaty, nuclear countries should destroy their weapons, he said. Elsewhere in his speech, he said that nuclear energy does not mean nuclear weapon and other countries’ rights to peaceful nuclear energy should also be taken into account. Criticizing hypocritical attitude towards disarmament commitments, Salehi said that today the US is seeking to update nuclear warheads at the cost of $700 billion. “Iran believes that time is ripe for Nuclear Disarmament Conference to set up a committee for holding talks about nuclear weapons conventions,” he said. The Zionist regime with its nuclear weapons poses a serious threat to the Middle East, Salehi said, adding that the regime is supported by certain nuclear states. Underlining that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine, based on a fatwa issued by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei which reiterated that getting access to nuclear weapons is a sin and their stockpiling is dangerous. The Iranian nation will never give up its right to peaceful nuclear energy, nor will it surrender to threats, Salehi concluded./end