Iran Backs Nuclear-Free Middle East in Dig at Israeli Arsenal

[Purveyor]

Source: Bloomberg

Iran supports the establishment of a Middle East free of nuclear weapons and backs efforts to dispose of existing ones in the region, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said today.

“We are at the forefront of efforts to scrap nuclear weapons,” Mehmanparast said at a press conference in Tehran aired live by Iran’s state television.

Iranian authorities complain of double standards over their country’s nuclear program, which they say is solely civilian while the U.S. and Israel say it may have military intent. Israel neither confirms nor denies its reputed nuclear-weapons arsenal. The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates that Israel has as many as 200 nuclear warheads.

“Countries which speak against our peaceful nuclear activities have themselves committed violations and acted against the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,” Mehmanparast said. He said Iran, a signatory, abides by the treaty.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-19/iran-backs-nuclear-free-middle-east-in-dig-at-israeli-arsenal.html

[RedstDem]

1. I trust Iran with nuclear weapons

more than I trust Israel........

[Comrade Grumpy]

2. Who's against a nuclear-free Middle East?

[Ash_F]

3. Latest IAEA report on Iran.

http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Board/2012/gov2012-55.pdf

I recommend people actually read it, and read for comprehension, before spouting the usual right wing talking points in this thread.

Cheers

[John2]

5. And where does the IAEA

get their authority from and whom sits on the Board of Governors for this organization? What is the mission of this organization? And why does Iran have to agree to their terms?

[Ash_F]

7. Iran is bound by the NPT.

The IAEA can find a country in violation of the NPT and then the UN general assembly can vote to rule them in violation. But neither has happened with Iran, ever. Americans need to understand this.

If you read the report. You can see that the IAEA has found no evidence of weaponization, which they state repeatedly. They have made demands that Iran cease certain activities, but they are not necessarily military in nature and therefore not technically banned by the NPT. Which is why the IAEA has never actually found them in violation of the NPT.

And yes, the IAEA consists of a minority of nations from the general assembly, and is largely controlled by the US and European powerhouses. Though the IAEA is an instrument of enforcement, it is not the final word on the NPT. The general assembly is. I guess this is your point?

But even the IAEA, with it's biases, has never found evidence of a weapons program, despite the ranting of right wing shills in the media. That was my point.

[geek tragedy]

4. They're assholes, but they have a point. nt

[Hugabear]

6. Why should Israel be allowed to have nukes, but not Iran?

There IS a double standard at play. I don't believe the US has ever once pressed for UN sanctions against Israel for their nuclear weapons program.