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Fourth day of Pugwash Conference features speech by Iran’s vice president on importance of dialogue

by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer

On November 4, the fourth day of the international Pugwash Conference taking place in Nagasaki, scientists and other participants discussed peace building in the Middle East. Ali Akbar Salehi, the vice president of Iran and the head of that nation’s Atomic Energy Organization, presented the final accord on nuclear issues between Iran and six major powers, including the United States and other European countries, which was reached in July, and stressed the importance of bridging divides through dialogue.

Describing the turning point in the agreement between Iran and the other nations, which had maintained an adversarial relationship over suspicions involving Tehran’s nuclear development program, Mr. Salehi said that pressure made with military force shifted to dialogue from around 2011. He added that although there had been prejudices against Iran at first, a more trusting relationship was gradually nurtured and Iran’s rights came to be respected.

Mr. Salehi also expressed agreement on the idea of creating a zone in the Middle East that would be free of weapons of mass destruction, but acknowledged that the slow progress being made to realize this aim poses a threat to the region. When asked about joint multilateral control of nuclear materials, like the system implemented in South America, Mr. Salehi said that he basically supports the idea and mentioned the possibility of Iran becoming the center of actualizing such a plan in the Middle East.

On November 5, the final day of the conference, a plenary session will wrap up discussions and release the “Nagasaki Declaration,” which will call for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

(Originally published on November 5, 2015)

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