Ambassador Khaddour: Israeli entity noncommitment to international nuclear control system poses threat on international and regional peace

Vienna, SANA- Ambassador Hassan Khaddour, Syria’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna stressed the need to implement the decision of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1995, stipulating for making the Middle East a nuclear weapon and other mass destruction weapons free zone.

This came during the meetings of the First session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), held currently in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

“All Arab countries have become parts of the NPT, while Israel is still the only one in the region that has not joined it, and all its activities and nuclear capabilities remain outside any international control system,” Ambassador Khaddour said.

The Syrian diplomat stressed that Israel, with its nuclear capabilities, and its noncommitment to the Treaty and the IAEA Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and its rejection of all initiatives calling for establishment of a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone pose threat on consolidating the nuclear non-proliferation system and nuclear disarmament and a threat to regional and international peace and security.

Ambassador Khaddour called upon the NPT state-members, particularly that possess nuclear weapons, to shoulder their responsibilities in putting pressure on Israel and demanding it to join the NPT without any conditions or delay and to put all its nuclear facilities under comprehensive IAEA safeguards and to seriously engage in international tracks aimed at making the Middle East a nuclear weapons and other mass destruction weapons free-zone.

He called for the necessity of implementing the Middle East decision that demands for the establishment of a Middle East nuclear-weapon free-zone as soon as possible as it contributes to achieve security and stability in the region and supports the international peace and security.

Fedaa al-Rhayiah / Hala Zain