Statement by Iran at the Thematic Debate: Verification and Confidence Building at the 2nd Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other WMD

Statement by Iran at the Thematic Debate: Verification and Confidence Building at the 2nd Session of the Conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and Other WMD

The statement notes Iran's position that a ME WMDFZ should avoid duplicating the available verification mechanisms existing in international WMD treaties. Iran remarks that the prospective ME WMDFZ is a non-proliferation treaty, not a disarmament one, thus regional states will have to disarm in advance. The statement continues to note the status of verification mechanisms under the IAEA, OPCW and BWC, noting also issues these organizations and implementing bodies will need to address in a ME WMDFZ context. It also notes the role of confidence-building measures in the treaty.