Iranian ministry criticizes UN secretary-general’s position concerning Iranian nuclear problem

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The Iranian foreign ministry criticized UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon’s position concerning the Iranian nuclear problem, ISNA agency reports saying that the statement was made by a spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry, Mohammad Ali Hosseini.

“The UN secretary-general in his position on the Iranian nuclear problem did not take into consideration principals of impartiality and the necessity to observe rights of all members of the international community,” Hosseini stressed. “His statements contradict Article 4 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty that secures rights of nations for peaceful use of nuclear energy,” he elaborated. “Iran’s nuclear technologies are under control of the International Atomic Energy Agency in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty requirements. Ignoring rights in nuclear sphere that are stipulated by membership in the IAEA means acting in conflict with the Non-Proliferation Treaty requirements,” Hosseini said. “We expect that the UN secretary-general’s position will be guided by principals and charter of the organization he heads,” the spokesman declared.

Earlier, during his first official visit to Washington, the new UN secretary-general, speaking on the issue of non-proliferation, called upon all members of international community to back the UN Security Council resolutions on Iran and North Korea.