Tehran Dialogue Forum Calls for Nuclear-Free West Asia
International Experts and Iranian Leaders Emphasise Peaceful Use of Nuclear Energy for All Countries
Tehran, PUREWILAYAH.COM - The Tehran Dialogue Forum (TDF), held in the Iranian capital, has called for the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free zone in West Asia and reaffirmed the right of all countries in the region to pursue peaceful nuclear energy under international safeguards.
On the second day of the forum, Karen Hallberg, Secretary General of the Pugwash Conferences for Science and World Affairs, highlighted that—with the exception of Israel—all West Asian countries are signatories to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This, she said, demonstrates a collective commitment to non-proliferation and a shared interest in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Hallberg stressed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should serve as the verification mechanism to ensure that nuclear activities remain exclusively peaceful.
Paolo Cotta-Ramusino, former Pugwash Secretary General, emphasised the distinction between peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, noting that the development of nuclear energy is vital for socioeconomic progress and does not inherently signal a pursuit of nuclear arms.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran, as an NPT member, will never abandon its peaceful nuclear program despite external pressure or threats. He stated that Iran’s religious beliefs prohibit the production of nuclear weapons, which he described as arms that
“destroy humanity and have nothing to offer the future of the Earth but savagery.”
Nasser Hadian, a political science professor at the University of Tehran, pointed out that Israel remains the only country in the region with nuclear weapons and continues to maintain its arsenal under a policy of deliberate ambiguity. Israel is estimated to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads, making it the sole possessor of such arms in West Asia.
The Pugwash Conferences, an international organisation dedicated to reducing the threat of nuclear weapons, played a key role in the forum’s discussions, bringing together scientists, policymakers, and experts to seek evidence-based solutions to global security challenges.
Forum participants concluded that the only obstacle to a nuclear weapons-free West Asia is Israel’s refusal to disarm, and they called for renewed international efforts to promote peaceful nuclear cooperation and regional security.(PW)
Source: PressTV