Zarif Meets Kerry in NY: ’Israel’ Most Violator of NPT
Local Editor
US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart will meet this week for the first time since they laid out the framework for a nuclear deal earlier this month.
The State Department said Kerry and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif would meet Monday in New York where both men are participating in a conference at the United Nations on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
The meeting comes as nuclear negotiators try to complete a comprehensive agreement by the end of June.
The State Department said that in addition to his meeting with Zarif, Kerry will also see the foreign ministers of Egypt and Jordan at the UN.
In early April, Iran and world powers sealed a breakthrough agreement after months of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.
Talks between Iran and world powers in recent days have been marked by tough talk from the Iranians about the lifting of sanctions and rejecting U.S. demands for thorough monitoring to make sure Iran meets its obligations.
Ahead of the Meeting, Zarif said "Israel" is the main impediment to the universality of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons [NPT] and the single violator of the accord.
"Unfortunately, "Israel's" possession of nuclear weapons and its refusal to engage with the international community has become the greatest impediment to the universality of this treaty," Zarif told Press TV.
The top Iranian diplomat further underlined the need for the establishment of a nukes-free zone in the Middle East.
"Since [the] 1970s, the General Assembly of the United Nations has been calling for the establishment of a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East, he said.
He underlined that the call for such a nuclear-free zone is not something new.
"In 1995, when the NPT was renewed, there was a declaration on the need for the universality of the NPT as well as the need for the establishment of the nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East. This request, or requirement and demand of the international community and member states of the NPT was again repeated in 2010 in the last review conference," Zarif said.
"One of the most important issues in the NPT review process is to look into ways and means of bringing about universality and bring about the "Israeli" compliance with NPT," he added.
He also elaborated on the function of the NPT, stressing that the treaty "rests on three pillars: nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy."
He also said that the issue of "Israeli" compliance with the NPT will top the agenda in the 2015 Review Conference.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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