ID :
115660
Thu, 04/08/2010 - 16:09
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Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/115660
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Nuclear disarmament an achievable goal: Iran
TEHRAN, Apr. 8 (MNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has stated that nuclear disarmament is an attainable goal.
Mottaki made the remarks here on Wednesday at a press conference in which he outlined the details of the international conference on nuclear disarmament scheduled to be held in Tehran from April 17 to 18.
The Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for No One conference will focus, among other things, on three major themes, namely challenges of nuclear disarmament, international commitments toward nuclear disarmament, and practical approaches to nuclear disarmament, he noted.
Mottaki maintained that the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons across the globe poses the gravest threat to world peace and international stability.
He lamented that the international community’s efforts to completely eradicate nuclear weapons have borne no fruit so far.
There are grave concerns in the international community over the realization of nuclear disarmament, he added.
He went on to say that all countries should sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and those that have already signed the NPT should reaffirm their commitment to it.
Mottaki warned against the double-standard approach toward the application of nuclear power meant for peaceful purposes, adding that this has undermined the credibility of the NPT.
The foreign minister also mentioned other items on the conference's agenda, such as the prohibition of nuclear weapons by all the world’s major religions as well as the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 1996 on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons.
The era of nuclear weapons is over
Mottaki dismissed the West’s accusations about the nature of Iran’s nuclear program and stated that all Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful.
“Iran does not believe in nuclear weapons nor does it need one. Iran believes that the era of nuclear weapons is over. These weapons are not even of use to those who possess them. If they were, they would have prevented the collapse of the Soviet Union. They would have prevented the Zionist regime’s losses in Gaza and Lebanon,” he observed.
Nuclear fuel exchange offer still on the table
The Iranian foreign minister stated that Tehran is still hopeful that an agreement can be reached on how to procure fuel for its nuclear research reactor.
“We have held direct and indirect talks with all sides of the Vienna group (the United States, France, Russia, Iran, and the International Atomic Energy Agency) and discussed different aspects of a logical framework for an exchange deal,” Mottaki said.
He also stated that Iran is prepared to implement the UN-drafted nuclear fuel deal.
“The nuclear fuel exchange proposal is still on the table and we can implement it,” he added.
The IAEA brokered a deal in Vienna last October under which Iran would send most of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium abroad for conversion into fuel rods to operate the Tehran research reactor.
Mottaki made the remarks here on Wednesday at a press conference in which he outlined the details of the international conference on nuclear disarmament scheduled to be held in Tehran from April 17 to 18.
The Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for No One conference will focus, among other things, on three major themes, namely challenges of nuclear disarmament, international commitments toward nuclear disarmament, and practical approaches to nuclear disarmament, he noted.
Mottaki maintained that the existence of thousands of nuclear weapons across the globe poses the gravest threat to world peace and international stability.
He lamented that the international community’s efforts to completely eradicate nuclear weapons have borne no fruit so far.
There are grave concerns in the international community over the realization of nuclear disarmament, he added.
He went on to say that all countries should sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and those that have already signed the NPT should reaffirm their commitment to it.
Mottaki warned against the double-standard approach toward the application of nuclear power meant for peaceful purposes, adding that this has undermined the credibility of the NPT.
The foreign minister also mentioned other items on the conference's agenda, such as the prohibition of nuclear weapons by all the world’s major religions as well as the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice in 1996 on the legality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons.
The era of nuclear weapons is over
Mottaki dismissed the West’s accusations about the nature of Iran’s nuclear program and stated that all Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful.
“Iran does not believe in nuclear weapons nor does it need one. Iran believes that the era of nuclear weapons is over. These weapons are not even of use to those who possess them. If they were, they would have prevented the collapse of the Soviet Union. They would have prevented the Zionist regime’s losses in Gaza and Lebanon,” he observed.
Nuclear fuel exchange offer still on the table
The Iranian foreign minister stated that Tehran is still hopeful that an agreement can be reached on how to procure fuel for its nuclear research reactor.
“We have held direct and indirect talks with all sides of the Vienna group (the United States, France, Russia, Iran, and the International Atomic Energy Agency) and discussed different aspects of a logical framework for an exchange deal,” Mottaki said.
He also stated that Iran is prepared to implement the UN-drafted nuclear fuel deal.
“The nuclear fuel exchange proposal is still on the table and we can implement it,” he added.
The IAEA brokered a deal in Vienna last October under which Iran would send most of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium abroad for conversion into fuel rods to operate the Tehran research reactor.
