Iranian FM Terms Nuclear Weapons as Biggest Threat to Humanity

Nuclear weapon is the biggest threat to humanity, Zarif said during an unofficial session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday held to mark the first ever International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

“Countries possessing nuclear weapons have the biggest responsibility in this regard (nuclear disarmament),” said the Iranian foreign minister, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the NAM.

He also expressed the hope that the session would be a positive step to notify the international community of the dangers of nuclear weapons and the benefits of nuclear disarmament for the development of countries as well as the international peace and security.

Zarif also emphasized the necessity to fully implement NAM's commitments to create a Middle East free from nuclear weapons, saying that the only guarantee for not using nuclear weapons is the complete elimination of them in the world.

Iran, one of the original states to sign the Non-proliferation Treaty, completed its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA in 1974. Areas covered include the application and implementation of safeguards, materials control, provision of information to the IAEA, and the non-application of safeguards to nuclear material to be used in non-peaceful activities.

The Islamic republic has been a major proponent of a nuclear-weapons-free Middle East, whose efforts and those of other regional countries have been hampered by Israel, which is thought to be in possession of a sizeable nuclear weapons arsenal.

Israel is believed to possess anywhere from 75 to as many as 400 nuclear weapons, including thermonuclear weapons in the megaton range. Israel has never confirmed or denied being in possession of the arms in line with its policy of "nuclear ambiguity."