-

The Plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament on Transparency on Nuclear Doctrines - 6 June 2023

Statement

By

Mr. Mehdi Aliabadi

Deputy Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office in Geneva

Before The Plenary meeting of the Conference on Disarmament

On Transparency on Nuclear Doctrines

(Under the Agenda Item 7: Transparency in Armaments)

6 June 2023

In the name of God, the most compassionate the most merciful

Thank you Madam President,

Since it’s the first time I take the floor under your presidency, let me congratulate you for assuming the presidency of the conference on disarmament and assure you of Iran’s full support in achieving our common goals in the conference.

I would also like to thank distinguished ambassador of Finland for all her efforts done during Finland’s presidency over the conference.

Let me also to join previous speakers to thank our distinguished well-informed panelists for their insight and contribution to the CD agenda item seven transparency in armamaents.

Madam President,

Transparency in nuclear doctrines and arsenals is an important issue to which Iran attaches great importance. We believe transparency by the nuclear weapon states on nuclear doctrines and nuclear arsenals should be done in line with the steps forward to cease the nuclear arms race at an early date and ultimately a world free of nuclear weapons. Unfortunately we are facing with serious setbacks, the prospect is not promising in this area.

We do not consider transparency in nuclear doctrines and policies solely for the sake of transparency; rather, we see upon it as a step toward nuclear disarmament in the shortest period of time.

Nuclear Transparency cannot substitute for the ultimate goal of general, complete and irrepressible nuclear disarmament. 

Transparency on nuclear doctrines and arsenals should be seen as a way to facilitate the cessation of manufacture of nuclear weapons and their complete and irreversible elimination under effective international control. A goal which has been overdue for a long time.

The ultimate goal of nuclear disarmament should not be overshadowed or reduced to issues like nuclear transparency or nuclear risk reduction.

Madam President,

To conclude,

I would like to remind again the obligation under Article 6 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty of nuclear weapon states to cease the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament.

Under the agenda item "transparency in armaments," it is worth noting that despite its official’s remarks on possession of nuclear weapons on numerous occasions, a non-member of NPT in the Middle East has been pursuing a long-term nuclear weapon policy of ambiguity in the region.

We strongly reiterate that the international community should make sure that it puts an end to its nuclear weapon program, conclude safeguard agreements with the International Atomic Energy Agency and eliminate all its nuclear weapons irreversibly under effective international control.

I thank you Madam President!