FM: Nuclear Weapons Have No Room in Iran’s Defense Doctrine

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Tehran’s extreme opposition to the proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction, and said nuclear weapons have no room in the country’s defense doctrine.
“Nuclear weapons are not in compliance and harmony with the religious tenets and defense doctrine of Iran,” Zarif said in a meeting with New Zealand’s Deputy Foreign Secretary for International and Legal Affairs Gerard van Bohemen in Tehran on Sunday.

The Iranian foreign minister lashed out at the western countries for their biased approach towards Iran’s nuclear program, and said, “While trying to make use of its legitimate right of access to the peaceful nuclear energy, Iran shares concern with many world countries over the proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction and (the aspiration for) a nuclear weapons-free world.”

Meantime, Zarif pointed to the good diplomatic relations between Tehran and Wellington, and underlined the need for the expansion of bilateral ties, specially in economic, trade and energy sectors.

The New Zealand’s deputy foreign secretary, for his part, pointed to Iran’s important status in regional and international arenas, and said that his country is ready to strengthen mutual cooperation with Iran.

In relevant remarks in December, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated Tehran’s extreme opposition to the proliferation of the Weapons of Mass Destruction, and said WMDs have no room in the country’s defense doctrine.
“The Iranian nation never considers WMDs as part of its national interests and this issue has no room in our defense doctrine,” Rouhani said in a ceremony held to praise Iranian researchers and scientists in Tehran.

He said Iran is not seeking to acquire WMDs not just because they are harmful to its “national interests, but also because they have no place in our religious views and beliefs and that’s why we do not consider them as part of our national interests and defense doctrine,” he added.

President Rouhani also stressed the importance of the Fatwa (religious decree) issued by Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei against the production and use of the nuclear weapons.

On February 22, 2012, Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed Peple Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons “a grave sin” from every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint.