Iran's Envoy to IAEA Urges CTBTO to Block All Sorts of N. Tests

The remarks were made by Iran's Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency Ali Asqar Soltaniyeh at the meeting of the Preparatory Commission of the CTBTO in Vienna on Monday.

During the CTBTO talks, Iran emphasized that the treaty should be drawn up in a way that would block any sort of nuclear tests, said Soltaniyeh, adding that unfortunately, the treaty is in such a position that keeps the doors open for such tests.

Addressing the meeting, Soltaniyeh said that it is regret that after lapse of years since conclusion of the nuclear arms test ban treaty, no progress has been made in nuclear disarmament.

Condemning nuclear arms tests, Soltaniyeh said unfortunately after passage of years, millions of dollars are still spent on proliferation of such arms and production of new versions.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has always played an active role during and after the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, noted Soltaniyeh.

The talks on verification of the treaty should be without any haste and necessary grounds should be prepared for this purpose with all legal and technical aspects and security reservations being taken into consideration, concluded the Iranian envoy.

The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, CTBTO Preparatory Commission or CTBTO Prep Com is an international organization based in Vienna, Austria that is tasked with preparing the activities of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). The organization was established by the states that signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in 1996 and will cease to exist upon the entry into force of the CTBT. It builds, certifies and operates the infrastructure for detection of Nuclear Tests, prepares regulations for the CTBTO and stimulates entry into force of the CTBT.

Iran has repeatedly called for global nuclear disarmament, including in the Middle East region where the Zionist regime has stockpiled hundreds of nuclear warheads with open support by the US and its European allies.

Iran, an NPT-signatory, has also called for the removal of all weapons of mass destruction from across the globe.
mehr/281