Iran urges world community to pressure Israel into joining Non-Proliferation Treaty

12 June 2011 | 18:24 Code : 13674 Latest Headlines

Haaretz--Tehran says Israel should subject its nuclear programs to international oversight and that the U.S. as Israel's main sponsor has the responsibility to halt its nuclear threat to the region.

Iran called on the world community Sunday to pressure Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and subject its nuclear programs to international oversight.

"The world community should put pressure on the Zionist regime (Israel) to join the NPT and allow inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said.

Conference on nuclear disarmament in Tehran, Salehi called the Israeli nuclear bomb arsenal as the main threat to the Middle East.

Salehi also said the United States as Israel's main sponsor has the responsibility to halt its nuclear threat to the region.

The two-day Tehran conference was mainly focused on Israel's policy of nuclear ambiguity and its refusal to neither confirm nor deny the possession of nuclear weapons.

Iran argues that instead of depriving Iran from civil nuclear use, the world powers should focus their attention on Israel, which it says operates in secret.

Tehran insists that its nuclear programs are peaceful, but world powers fear it is using the same technology to develop weapons.

Iran has constantly denied the accusations and says it has the legitimate right to pursue nuclear development, including uranium enrichment, as a NPT signatory and IAEA member.