Iran calls on the international community to put pressure on Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear weapon party, said Iran's representative to the UN, Heydar Ali Baluji, speaking at the 77th meeting of the Committee on Disarmament and International Security in New York.
Outlining Iran's principled position on disarmament and international security, he noted that new and unconventional security threats have undermined peace and worsened the global security situation. He said heightened tensions along with the nuclear arms race could lead to a cold war, if not a nuclear war, in the world, Press TV reported.
Baluji drew attention to the surge in military spending and record high military spending in 2021, saying the United States has the highest military spending and nuclear weapons compared to other countries.
He noted that the implementation of the legally binding obligations of the nuclear powers under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has not been realized because of the failure of international nuclear arms control treaties and the unfortunate lack of success of two consecutive NPT Review Conferences. He warned that the nuclear powers were increasing their arsenals.
In addition to the erosion of the arms control architecture, the Iranian envoy said, there has been non-compliance with the NPT by nuclear-weapon states, stressing that the international community must hold them accountable.
Baluji added that Israel has weapons of mass destruction, has also carried out cyber and physical attacks on nuclear facilities, and has killed scientists.
He noted that Israel has obstructed nuclear disarmament in the region, calling on the international community to pressure the country to join the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon party and agree to IAEA monitoring.
The Iranian diplomat explained that nuclear disarmament through total elimination could be a simple solution, adding that the use of chemical or biological weapons should be abandoned and all conventions in this regard should be followed.
