Iran Press/ Iran News: AUKUS is a tripartite security pact between Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom that was concluded in September last year (2021) under the pretext of the increase of the Chinese threat. Under the treaty, the United States and the UK will help Australia develop and deploy nuclear submarines to increase the West's military presence in the Pacific.
In response to a question about the Islamic Republic of Iran's view on the US-UK-Australian tripartite cooperation known as AUKUS, Saeed Khatibzadeh said: "The International Atomic Energy Agency, as a specialized body, has the task of helping members benefit from peaceful nuclear energy and preventing the risk of proliferation."
The spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs added: "It is the right of all NPT member states to use peaceful nuclear energy."
Khatibzadeh added that the Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the application of double standards in dealing with the members of the Non-Proliferation Treaty by the West, especially the United States and the UK, and notes Australia's negative past regarding non-proliferation.
The spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry said the AUKUS agreement could potentially increase the risk of nuclear proliferation.
In this regard, silence, secrecy, or political justification of some countries does not help to resolve concerns, and Iran, while inviting everyone to face the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the threat of peace, urges these countries to abide by their obligations under the NPT.
Khatibzadeh said that the proposal to address the proliferation risk posed by AUKUS in the Agency was supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
