Statement by Iran at the 4th session of the conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other WMD

Statement by Iran at the 4th session of the conference on the Establishment of a Middle East Zone Free of Nuclear Weapons and other WMD

The statement emphasised the need to address the risk associated with sharing and potential proliferation of nuclear weapons by the US and NATO. It expresses concern regarding the comments made by Israeli officials and Israel’s nuclear ambiguity. The Iranian statement expresses the urgent need for an ME WMDFZ as an essential step towards a safe and secure future. The statement welcomes the ‘Joint Communique by the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the Threat of Use of Nuclear Weapons by Israel’ that was adopted by all the OIC Member States. Iran proposes a declaration to condemn the use of nuclear weapons and calls for the intervention of international bodies. It notes Israel’s and the US's absence from the conference. The statement proposes areas that need further attention in the conference deliberations, such as verification, to address the gaps in the IAEA framework, the right of member states to pursue the peaceful use of WMD technologies without obstacles, utilizing experts in the Working Committee, considering the establishment of a 5 years review process, and leveraging the valuable experiences of other regional treaties.