Tehran slams US-Israeli efforts to curb Iran’s nuclear program

The United States and Israel are using what Iran describes as “illegal and barbaric methods” to deprive Tehran of its inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, Iranian Ambassador to Thailand Nassereddin Heidari said.

Speaking to Russian TASS news agency, Heidari argued that Washington and Tel Aviv have no legitimate grounds to restrict Iran’s nuclear activities, emphasizing Tehran’s obligations and rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

“The whole bitterness of this situation lies in the fact that two nuclear powers, one of which is tainted by the history of using an atomic bomb for mass killings, while the other, despite possessing huge nuclear arsenals, is not a party to any disarmament treaty, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), are trying through illegal and barbaric methods to deprive a sovereign state of its inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he said.

Heidari categorically rejected allegations that Iran has sought to develop nuclear weapons, arguing that reports by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have not established evidence of deviations in the country’s nuclear program.

“One thing is certain: Iran has never sought to develop weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. There is no evidence in the official documents of the International Atomic Energy Agency of any deviations in Iran’s nuclear activities,” he said.

The Iranian diplomat pointed to more than 15 IAEA reports submitted to the agency’s Board of Governors concerning the absence of deviations in Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

Heidari also stressed that the NPT guarantees member states the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, including uranium enrichment.

“Under the NPT, to which Iran is a party, all states have an inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes. Attempts to deprive a sovereign state of these rights contradict both the NPT itself and the final documents of its review conferences,” he emphasized.

By Vafa Guliyeva