Israel’s ‘prohibited nuclear activity’ is a ‘serious threat’ to Middle Eastern peace: Iran

Iran has said Israel is the main obstacle to the nuclear-free Middle East. Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency asked the international community to pressure Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Reza Najafi said in an address to the 59th session of the IAEA’s General Conference in Vienna on Thursday that Israel’s “prohibited nuclear activity” had “seriously threatened regional peace and security and endangers the non-proliferation regime,” Press TV reported. “This non-party to the NPT which continues to run its illegal underground nuclear military program, supported by its allies, has not even declared its intention to accede to the Treaty and abandon its weapons of mass destruction program.”

Najafi also said there should be sustained pressure on Tel Aviv to become a “non-nuclear weapon party,” adding that Israel must “place all of its underground nuclear activities and installations under the IAEA full-scope safeguards.” According to the Iranian envoy, some permanent members of the United Nations Security Council should be blamed for Israel’s “intransigent” nuclear policy.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has appointed Stephen Mull, a former ambassador to Poland, as the lead coordinator to ensure the implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement.

“Steve will lead the inter-agency effort to ensure that the nuclear steps Iran committed to in the (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) are fully implemented and verified, and that we and our partners are taking reciprocal action on sanctions, following the nuclear steps,” The Guardian quoted Kerry as saying.

The United Nations, the European Union and the United States are going to lift sanctions against the Islamic republic, according to the agreement. Iran has agreed to reduce its low-enriched uranium stockpile.

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