Israel Only Obstacle to Nuclear-Free Middle-East

(FNA)- Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Gholam-Hossein Dehqani warned the international community against the major threat posed by Israel's nuclear arsenals to global peace and security, and called the Zionist regime the main impediment to the establishment of a nuclear-free region in the Middle-East.

"The Zionist regime hinders the international efforts aiming to create Middle East free from nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction," Dehqani said addressing a UN meeting in New York on Thursday.

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

The UN General Assembly approved a draft resolution proposed by Iran on nuclear disarmament in October 2009 amid strong opposition by the US, Britain, France, Israel and a number of western countries.

The resolution ratified in the first committee of the UN General Assembly calls on all nuclear countries to annihilate their nuclear weapons under the supervision of international bodies.

More than 100 countries, including non-nuclear members of the NAM, voted for the resolution.

The resolution also urges Israel to join the NPT and allow the IAEA to inspect its nuclear installations.