Iran Slams West’s Nuclear Double Standards, Hails Syria’s Elections
The Iranian Foreign Ministry called Tuesday the world powers to focus on scrapping nuclear weapons and abiding by their own non-proliferation commitments rather than speculating about Iran's peaceful atomic work.
The broadside by the ministry's spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast appeared to be a response to a United States [US] call the previous day for Iran to take urgent practical steps to build confidence ahead of nuclear talks with six major powers in Baghdad on May 23.
"Some countries say they are concerned that Iran's activities might be diverted towards non-peaceful purposes in the future," he said. "When they are talking about future speculation, how can they not be concerned about scrapping nuclear weapons at the present time?"
Mehmanparast further noted to the Wests double standards by accusing it of mounting pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program, while supplying "Israel" with nuclear capable submarines.
"Some of these countries have nuclear-capable submarines they have delivered to the Zionist regime," he said, alluding to Germany's sale of Dolphin-class submarines to "Israel", which are reported to carry nuclear warheads.
"All of these countries need to feel committed to the contents of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT)."
In rebuke to the world's nuclear powers who have failed to downsize their own arsenals, Mehmanparast spoke of their "contravention and clear violation of the rules."
On another level, Mehmanparast hailed the recent parliamentary elections in Syria as the "second step in a course of reforms in the Arab country."
"The participation of the Syrian people in the parliamentary elections is a sign of their will and understanding in resolving their domestic issues via peaceful means," he said.
The Iranian official further urged regional and non-regional countries to support Kofi Annan's plan for Syria and let the reforms be implemented in the country and stability to be restored.
Mehmanparast called on certain countries and urged them to refrain from what "supplying arms to the Syrian opposition and to join the international efforts to settle the Syrian crisis."
Source: News Agencies, Edited by moqawama.org
Comments
- Related News
US Senate Votes 15-3 for Arming Syrian Opposition
12 years ago
