The big picture:
The UN chief's rude comment comes as the Islamic Republic has long been committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty as one of the original 62 signatories, on the one hand, and the Israeli regime, supported by the US, has massacred over 46,000 people in Gaza during the last 16 months.
What he is saying:
- The Leader of the Islamic Republic declared in a fatwa in 2003 that building a nuclear weapon is forbidden under Islamic law and that Iran does not need such a weapon.
State of play:
Iran has consistently emphasized that its nuclear program is entirely peaceful and aimed at various civilian applications.
- generation of sustainable electricity to meet growing energy demands
- production of medical isotopes for cancer treatment and other medical uses
- improvement of crop yields and pest control
- enhancement of industrial processes through radiation technology
- production of fresh water, given the global water crisis
- advancement of scientific research across fields like physics, chemistry, and engineering
Flashback:
Yet, the US has a dark record of the nuclear bombardment of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that occurred during World War II in August 1945.
- On August 6, 1945, the US' "Little Boy," an enriched uranium bomb hit Hiroshima.
- About 80,000 people, with tens of thousands more dying later from radiation exposure.
- By the end of 1945, the total number of deaths was between 90,000 and 166,000.
- On August 9, 1945, the US' "Fat Man," a plutonium implosion-type bomb hit Nagasaki.
- About 40,000 people were killed instantly, with the total number by the end of 1945 ranging from 60,000 to 80,000.
- Many more succumbed to radiation poisoning and injuries in the following months.
Zoom in:
Meanwhile, the US-baked Israel, not part of the NPT, is reported to have a nuclear arsenal without international oversight, which reveals a contradiction in arms control: Iran faces IAEA's intense inspections, while Israel remains unchecked.
- Israel is estimated to have around 90 to 300 nuclear warheads.
- Israel is believed to have a nuclear triad, which includes:
- F-15 and F-16 fighters capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
- Dolphin-class submarines equipped with cruise missiles.
- Jericho series of intermediate to intercontinental range ballistic missiles.
What they are saying:
- Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman: "Comments by Israeli officials about considering nuclear use are provocative and unacceptable. Such public admissions are proof that Israel possesses nuclear weapons."
- Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) has reported that Israel is likely modernizing its nuclear arsenal and has around 90 warheads stored, with significant construction at the Negev Nuclear Research Centre near Dimona.
- Nikolai Sokov, Senior Fellow at the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Nonproliferation: "Israel is definitely a nuclear weapon state that adheres to a policy of ambiguity as to how many weapons it actually possesses."
What we are saying:
Given the US' history with nuclear bombs, Western countries like the UK updating their arsenals annually, and international concerns about Israel's nuclear activities, who should ensure that they have no nuclear weapons or clarify they are not moving towards building them?
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Mohammad Kazemi
