Israel has acknowledged its possession of nuclear bombs: Iran’s nuclear chief
Iran’s nuclear chief called for global condemnation of recent remarks by an Israeli minister on the possibility of dropping an atomic bomb on Gaza, saying the comments substantiate the assumptions about the regime’s possession of atomic bombs.
“Once again, an official with the Zionist regime has admitted to its possession of nuclear weapons. More importantly, he undermined the fundamental principles of the international law and the UN Charter by making threats against the oppressed and innocent people of Gaza,” Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), said on Wednesday.
He added, “Even though some countries have already denounced the remarks, it is high time international organizations, especially the United Nations, broke their silence and took firm actions in the face of such audacity, which seriously jeopardizes international peace and security.”
Eslami also urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its director general, Rafael Grossi, to adopt an independent and firm approach within the framework of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, especially on the establishment of a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.
Iran’s nuclear chief also called on the IAEA to condemn the Israeli minister’s controversial remarks, which violate the principles and objectives of the UN Charter, and report to the United Nations Security Council on the fallout of Israel’s nuclear bombardment.
Eslami’s reaction came days after Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said in an interview that dropping a nuclear bomb on the coastal territory was “one of the possibilities.”
Asked about the fate of the Palestinian families in Gaza after nuking the strip, he said, “They can go to Ireland or deserts.”
Eliyahu added that allowing any humanitarian aid into Gaza was wrong, claiming, “There is no such thing as uninvolved civilians in Gaza.” He also went as far as calling the innocent civilian population in Gaza “Nazis.”
Israel, which pursues a policy of deliberate ambiguity about its nuclear weapons, is estimated to harbor 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, making it the sole possessor of non-conventional arms in West Asia.
The regime has, nevertheless, refused to either allow inspections of its military nuclear facilities or sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Iran’s permanent ambassador to the UN also called on the international community to push Israel to fully cooperate with the UN nuclear agency and dismantle its nuclear weapons program.
Amir Saeed Iravani, in a letter to the UN Security Council on Tuesday, described as a “matter of utmost concern” the Israeli threat of using nuclear weapons against the vulnerable and innocent civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
Underlining that it was the second time in just two months that senior Israeli officials had resorted to the threat of using nuclear weapons, Iravani said the regime’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also made explicit threats regarding the use of such weapons against Iran in his address at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September.
“The use or even the mere threat of nuclear weapons, irrespective of the circumstances or the responsible party, constitutes a flagrant violation not only of international law but also of the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” the Iranian envoy said.