Recalling the tense round of negotiations surrounding the issue of Syria’s chemical weapons, the Russian foreign minister said that it was Iran that “offered a very sound addition.”
The insider revelation into the diplomatic process of avoiding yet another armed conflict in the Middle East was shared by Sergey Lavrov in an interview with Kommersant daily.
The clause, submitted by Tehran was included in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) decision on Friday ahead of the UNSC vote on a new Syrian resolution.
“It is very important that in the Hague, when there was a vote on the decision on the role of the OPCW in implementing the program of chemical weapons destruction in Syria, a special clause was inserted urging all countries which have not yet done so to sign the convention,” Lavrov said.
“I will reveal a little secret: this clause was introduced by Iran and supported by the United States. Iran in the past century, has twice suffered from chemical weapons. I think Iran offered a very sound addition,” the Russian foreign minister said.
With the new revelation about Tehran’s role in the Syrian disarmament process, Iran's intent to de-militarize the Middle East seems even more serious.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s speech at the UN General Assembly was focused at promoting peace efforts in the Middle East.
Besides indicating his country’s full readiness to immediately engage in result-oriented talks over its nuclear program, he also urged Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and called for a world disarmament conference to establish a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East.
“Threatening non-nuclear states with nuclear weapons should end. The modernization of these weapons undercuts efforts for their total abolition,” Iranian president stressed.
Lavrov said “This key task – to do everything possible in order to neutralize, deliver to international control and then destroy chemical stockpiles that still exist in the world – was set by [Russian] president [Vladimir Putin] after his conversation with [US President] Barack Obama”.
Tehran’s call to create a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East was not welcomed by Tel-Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is headed to the US to meet with Barack Obama on Monday to try to change possible intentions by Obama administration to soften its stance toward Tehran.
Israel, which is estimated to have at least 80 nuclear warheads, has been leading a war rhetoric against Iran’s nuclear program which has been conducted under international supervision has never proved to be diverting from civilian purposes.
SHI/SHI