Build global confidence in nuke programme: UN chief to Iran

Tehran: UN chief Ban Ki-moon today asked Iran to build “international confidence” in its nuclear programme by fully complying with the global obligations under NPT and cooperating with IAEA, shortly after Tehran slammed the UNSC for being “unjust and completely undemocratic”. Addressing the leaders and delegates gathered in Tehran for the 16th NAM Summit, Ban also urged the sanctions-hit country to engage “constructively” in P5 plus 1 (US, UK, Russia, France and China plus Germany) talks while pursuing its nuclear programme. [caption id=“attachment_436881” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Ban Ki-moon asked Iran to gain international confidence in its nuclear programme.[/caption] For the sake of “peace and stability” of the region, “I urge Iran to build international confidence” by fully complying with the international obligations under Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and cooperating with the global atomic watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," he said. The UN chief also said Tehran, during its chairmanship of the 120-nation Non-Aligned Movement, could demonstrate that it can play a “moderate and constructive” role. Ban’s address followed the hard-hitting inaugural speech of Iran’s Supreme leader Ayotallah Khamenei, who said, “the UN Security Council has an illogical, unjust and completely undemocratic structure and mechanism. This is a flagrant form of dictatorship, which is antiquated and obsolete and whose expiry date has passed.” He also stressed that all leaders should ensure that the world should be free of nuclear weapons and work together to check illicit arms trade. Ban, who was criticised by Israel for attending the Summit in Tehran, also made mention of other global issues, including worsening Syria crisis. He said what started with a peaceful march is turning out to be long-term civil war in Syria. PTI