P5 countries say Iran raises concern

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council have issued a joint statement in which they voiced their “serious concern” about Iran’s nuclear program.

The veto-wielding members of the council, all of whom are nuclear powers, signed a joint statement to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference in New York, expressing support for the NPT as a fundamental treaty for the protection of world peace and security.

They raised “serious concern” over Iran’s nuclear activities and called on North Korea to resume negotiations over its nuclear program.

“We underscore the importance of Iran’s full and immediate compliance with its international obligations,” said the statement signed by the United States, Russia, China, France, and Britain.

“We urge Iran to respond to the concerns of the international community by complying promptly and fully with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” DPA quoted the statement as saying on Wednesday.

The major powers’ call for Iran to comply with its international obligations comes despite the fact that the IAEA has never found a shred of evidence indicating that Iran has diverted its civilian nuclear program to weapons production.