Iran keen on a WMD-free world
Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:27:35

Iran's Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations says Tehran
is determined t o help create a world free of weapons of mass destruction.

Mohammad Khazaei made the comment at the session of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly on disarmament and international security in New York.

"As the sole victim of chemical weapons at the present juncture, Iran is determined and highly motivated to help create a world free from WMDs," Khazaei said.

Referring to former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein's use of chemical weapons against Iranians during the 1980-88 imposed war, Khazaei said tens of thousands of Iranians were still suffering or dying from the effects of Saddam's chemical weapons.

The envoy also criticized the US double standard toward nuclear disarmament, saying that the US claims to be the pioneer in opposing WMDs even as it supports the role of nuclear weapons in restoring peace and threatens to use such weapons against members of the Non-proliferation Treaty as well.

Khazaei added that the Zionist regime was the only obstacle to a Middle East free of nuclear weapons because it refuses to join the NPT and pursues a secret nuclear program.

On the Iranian nuclear program, the envoy called talks the only solution to the standoff and the IAEA the only qualified authority to verify Iran's case.