Uranium enrichment by Iran criticized as Tehran conference concludes
Apr. 21, 2010
by Keisuke Yoshihara, Staff Writer, dispatched from Tehran
On April 18, an international conference entitled "International Disarmament and Non-proliferation: World Security without Weapons of Mass Destruction," organized by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, held three subcommittee meetings in Tehran, summarized the discussions held during its two-day schedule, and ended its session.
At a subcommittee meeting on the theme of "International obligations of States for disarmament and non-proliferation," suspected nuclear development by Iran was discussed and a former U.S. diplomat voiced veiled criticism, saying that deception and a lack of trust are obstacles to disarmament. The diplomat pointed out that Iran should promote confidence-building actions with the United States. A Russian specialist on nuclear non-proliferation stated that Iran should receive enriched nuclear fuel from overseas, and urged Iran to give up its uranium enrichment activities within the nation.
In response, Iranian researchers argued that the production and use of weapons of mass destruction are in violation of the teachings of Islam and that the threat represented by the United States, which has warned of its potential use of nuclear weapons, should be tried at an international court.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, 200 people from about 60 nations attended the conference. Nobumasa Akiyama, associate professor at Hitotsubashi University, who exchanged views with other participants, commented, "Though the participants came from a large number of nations, they were not necessarily in a position to support Iran. This conference cannot be said to be successful as an attempt to justify the actions of the host nation of Iran."
(Originally published on April 19, 2010)
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Iranian official shares idea of disarmament conference in Iran with Hiroshima mayor (Dec. 28, 2009)
Iranian nuclear negotiator stresses peaceful use of nation's nuclear program (Dec. 28, 2009)
On April 18, an international conference entitled "International Disarmament and Non-proliferation: World Security without Weapons of Mass Destruction," organized by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, held three subcommittee meetings in Tehran, summarized the discussions held during its two-day schedule, and ended its session.
At a subcommittee meeting on the theme of "International obligations of States for disarmament and non-proliferation," suspected nuclear development by Iran was discussed and a former U.S. diplomat voiced veiled criticism, saying that deception and a lack of trust are obstacles to disarmament. The diplomat pointed out that Iran should promote confidence-building actions with the United States. A Russian specialist on nuclear non-proliferation stated that Iran should receive enriched nuclear fuel from overseas, and urged Iran to give up its uranium enrichment activities within the nation.
In response, Iranian researchers argued that the production and use of weapons of mass destruction are in violation of the teachings of Islam and that the threat represented by the United States, which has warned of its potential use of nuclear weapons, should be tried at an international court.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, 200 people from about 60 nations attended the conference. Nobumasa Akiyama, associate professor at Hitotsubashi University, who exchanged views with other participants, commented, "Though the participants came from a large number of nations, they were not necessarily in a position to support Iran. This conference cannot be said to be successful as an attempt to justify the actions of the host nation of Iran."
(Originally published on April 19, 2010)
Related articles
Iranian official shares idea of disarmament conference in Iran with Hiroshima mayor (Dec. 28, 2009)
Iranian nuclear negotiator stresses peaceful use of nation's nuclear program (Dec. 28, 2009)
