UN should not pull punches on issue of total nuclear disarmament:Supreme Leader

TEHRAN,Aug.30(MNA)--Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei held separate meetings with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Tehran on Wednesday. Singh arrived in the Iranian capital on Tuesday and Ban arrived on Wednesday to attend the 16th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, which opens today and closes tomorrow. During his meeting with the UN secretary general, Ayatollah Khamenei commented on the issue of global nuclear disarmament and said, “Do not show leniency toward any power in regard to the issue of nuclear disarmament and properly use the opportunity that has been provided to you.” “The Islamic Republic of Iran insists on (its) stance (regarding the establishment of) a Middle East free of nuclear weapons, and the United Nations should make serious efforts to allay the current concerns about nuclear weapons,” he added. The Leader also said, “Unfortunately, the (structure) of the United Nations is flawed, and the most tyrannical powers in the world, which possess nuclear weapons and have a record of using them, have dominated the United Nations.” “The Americans are fully aware that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons and are only seeking pretexts,” he stated. Iran has comprehensively cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ayatollah Khamenei said, adding, “The agency, according to its regulations, is obliged to help the Islamic Republic of Iran scientifically and technically. But the International Atomic Energy Agency has not only not done so, but is also taking obstructive measures.” He also criticized the fact that the IAEA has not taken any stance against the proliferation of malware by the West, including the Stuxnet worm. In September 2010, international news agencies reported that the Stuxnet worm, which is capable of taking over power plants, had infected many industrial sites in Iran. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Leader commented on the situation in Syria, saying, “The Islamic Republic of Iran, according to its beliefs and religious teachings, is ready to make every effort to help resolve the Syrian crisis.” “But the resolution of the Syrian crisis has one (reasonable) condition, which is the prevention of the shipment of weaponry to irresponsible groups in Syria,” he added. “The bitter truth about Syria is that a number of governments have compelled the groups opposing the Syrian government to engage in a war with the Syrian government on their behalf,” Ayatollah Khamenei stated. He went on to say that the same governments that provoked such a war in Syria “prevented the implementation of Mr. Kofi Annan’s plan and prevented the plan from coming to fruition.” He added, “As long as this very dangerous plan (is pursued) by certain governments in Syria, Syria’s situation will not change.” Annan, the outgoing UN-Arab League joint special envoy on Syria, has put forward a six-point plan for ending the crisis in Syria, which calls for a UN-supervised ceasefire by all parties, the withdrawal of soldiers and heavy weapons from cities, and the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Annan announced on August 3 that he would resign when his mandate expires on August 31. UN asks Iran to use its influence to help resolve Syrian crisis During the meeting, Ban emphasized Iran’s “very important” and “influential” status in the region and said, “In regard to Syria, I, as the secretary general of the United Nations, ask Iran to pave the way for the resolution of the Syrian crisis through using its influence and power,” the Persian service of the Leader’s website, Leader.ir., reported. Elsewhere in his remarks, Ban expressed concern about the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program and called on Iran to cooperate more with the IAEA and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany). Iran, India should enhance cooperation on regional issues During his meeting with the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Ayatollah Khamenei said that the situation is ripe for the expansion of ties between Iran and India in all areas, particularly in regard to trade and the development of infrastructure. Iran has always had a positive view of India, the Leader said, adding that the two countries can enhance their cooperation on regional issues. Commenting on the situation in Syria, Singh stated that India is opposed to foreign interference in the internal affairs of the Arab country and calls for a Syrian-Syrian solution to the crisis.