Pakistan and Iran advocate for peaceful nuclear rights at UN

During United Nations discussions regarding the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), representatives from Pakistan and Iran emphasized the right of sovereign nations to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN argued for equitable and non-discriminatory civil nuclear cooperation. The Pakistani delegate stated that efforts to prevent weapons proliferation should not impede the use of dual-use technologies, which are essential for the economic development of the Global South. Pakistan noted that its six nuclear reactors operate under IAEA safeguards and provide approximately 20 per cent of its national energy needs.

Iranian representatives at the UN asserted that denying access to the nuclear fuel cycle violates Article IV of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). They criticized the use of non-proliferation measures as a tool for political pressure by Western nations. Additionally, Iran characterized military strikes on its nuclear facilities as violations of international law and the UN Charter, while calling for an end to double standards regarding nuclear obligations.