Iranian Foreign Ministry officials gave a boost to the efforts for a nuclear-free Middle East pact today, endorsing the plan in much the same terms as officials from rival Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Efforts to negotiate a treaty for a fully nuclear weapons free Middle East began in the mid 90’s, but got a major shot in the arm in 2010, when the signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) endorsed a plan to hold a 2012 summit on the matter. That summit never took place.
The stumbling block for this plan is, as ever, Israel, which is the only nation in the region that has nuclear weapons. The United States initially endorsed the plan, but later insisted they “regretted” doing so, and the Obama Administration has since issued statements saying they believe a nuclear-free zone would be a “mistake” and that Israel has an inherent right to its nuclear arsenal.
Russia was the last major nation seriously pushing the summit in 2012, at which time Israel condemned the effort as “futile.” The US complained the summit would’ve unfairly singled out Israel, since it has nuclear weapons, and wouldn’t have focused enough on Iran’s civilian program.
I would like to see Israel, American, European government asking for the same.., or even thinking about the matter.
Nukes are designed to kill civilians, the goal being to terrorize civilians into submission and you can't do that by killing the troops — as ingrate civilians could not care less about the troops.
And that is their only purpose, which is why Truman was ordered by the corporate rich to nuke two cities in Japan of no military value. Surely a war crime of the highest magnitude.
yes, that was a war crime and one of the highest (and cruelest) order. But racism makes its justifications and back then it just did not matter if we mass murdered a bunch of yellow skin japs.
the public has been sufficiently primed for an equal justification now against muslims with our media and government blasting arabs, iranians and other muslims for being weird looking ugly brown skin terrorists with daly propaganda
Just a matter of time B4 all the neighbors get same….
"nuclear-free zone would be a “mistake” and that Israel has an inherent right to its nuclear arsenal."
How can the USA pretend to be moral/rational/independent… yet support Israel in this crucial decision which could solve the whole region's safety worries? Encouraging the rogue Israel while cruelly destroying Iran for wanting a civil nuclear option (as suggested by Henry Kissinger to the Shah!!) makes no sense at all, is bad for the economies of the USA, Europe and others as Iran's oil is kept off the market, and of course is morally indefensible and shows the huge strength of the Israel lobby on US "lawmakers".
It is not Israeli nukes itself and I think it is not even the power of Israeli lobby which makes US and European governments pussyfooting around Israel. It is a nuclear blackmail by Israeli government as defined in Israel's doctrine of "Samson Option" and apparent craziness and willingness of Israeli leaders to start a nuclear Armageddon if their dictates are not met. This is for me the only explanation why Israel can do whatever they wish with no repercussions.
It is not Israeli nukes itself and I think it is not even the power of Israeli lobby which makes US and European governments pussyfooting around Israel. It is a nuclear blackmail by Israeli government as defined in Israel's doctrine of "Samson Option" and apparent craziness and willingness of Israeli leaders to start a nuclear Armageddon if their dictates are not met. This is for me the only explanation why Israel can do whatever they wish with no repercussions.