WANA (Jan 23) – Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, responded to remarks made on Wednesday by Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General on nuclear weapons, during the Davos forum.

 

Early Thursday, Araghchi took to the social media platform X to address Guterres’ statements, writing: “It is audacious to preach that Iranians must “once and for all make it clear that they will renounce to have nuclear weapons.”

 

The Iranian Foreign Minister further stressed that Iran’s longstanding commitment to the global non-proliferation regime is evident to all.

 

He recalled that Iran signed the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) in 1968 as one of its founding members and noted that The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution has issued a religious edict declaring all weapons of mass destruction forbidden (haram).”

 

Araghchi also stated: “Iran signed, In 2015, the JCPOA, which imposed the most intrusive inspection regime in IAEA history”, and explicitly declared once again: “Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek, develop or acquire any nuclear weapons.” (JCPOA, Para. iii of PREAMBLE AND GENERAL PROVISIONS)

 

Iran’s Foreign Minister emphasized that this is a permanent and clear commitment to which Iran has adhered even after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018.

 

In conclusion, he pointed out: “Reality check: the ‘most relevant question’ in our region is Israel’s genocide in Gaza and occupation of Palestinian, Syrian & Lebanese territory. It is Israel’s actual nuclear arsenal and refusal to join the NPT, which is a threat to the world. This must not be normalized or whitewashed.”