New York: Amir Sa'eed Iravani, Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has stated that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have maintained a long-term cooperation. This partnership, if insulated from foreign political pressures and allowed to operate with independence, technical precision, and professionalism, could potentially resolve the few remaining disputes between the two parties.
According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Iravani emphasized in his speech at a United Nations session that the longstanding cooperation between Iran and the IAEA could result in a resolution of differences, provided the IAEA remains free from political influence. He highlighted the importance of the IAEA adopting an impartial and technical approach to foster transparency and compliance.
Iravani's address also touched on broader international disarmament issues. He expressed concern over the global escalation of military expenditures and the continued existence of a significant number of nuclear weapons, which he claimed undermines global peace and security. He criticized nuclear-weapon states for failing to meet their disarmament obligations and for pursuing the modernization of their arsenals.
The Iranian envoy pointed to recent actions, such as the United States' launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, as indicative of a trend towards strengthening nuclear arsenals, which he argued contradicts disarmament commitments. He further criticized NATO member states for their reliance on nuclear weapons while demanding non-proliferation from others.
Iravani reiterated Iran's commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its collaborative efforts with the IAEA to uphold transparency and compliance. He noted that Iran has allowed extensive IAEA inspections, which account for a significant portion of all inspections conducted by the agency.
He also addressed regional security concerns, particularly highlighting Israel's possession of nuclear weapons and the lack of international action to address it. Iravani called for Israel to join the NPT and place its nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards to promote a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
Finally, Iravani stressed the importance of keeping emerging technologies for peaceful purposes and warned against their weaponization. He advocated for legally binding international agreements to ensure these technologies are not monopolized by a few countries or used as pretexts for coercive measures.