‘Elimination of nuclear weapons requires new approach’

Zarif made the remarks addressing the General Assembly Meeting to Promote the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and speaking on behalf of 120 member-states of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in New York on Wednesday.

Pointing out that nuclear weapons are the greatest threat to humanity, Zarif said: “The international community has waited too long for the realization of the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”

Talking about the limitations of the gradual approach of elimination of nuclear weapons, he added “The limitations of the step-by-step approach are more apparent than before. It is time to take a new and comprehensive approach on nuclear disarmament through a comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons.”

At the beginning of the session, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his gratitude to the Islamic Republic of Iran for the designation of 26 of September as the International Day for the Total Elimination for Nuclear Weapons.

Two years ago in 2013, at the High level meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament, President Rouhani, on behalf of the NAM, proposed the proposal which was subsequently adopted by the General Assembly.

The day provides an opportunity to educate the public—and their leaders—about the real benefits of eliminating such weapons, and the social and economic costs of perpetuating them.