TEHRAN Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mahmoud Mohammadi said here Wednesday that declination of certain nuclear power countries inclusive of the United States of America in the initiation of a serious all-sided negotiation in issues of the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons has brought about nuclear race in the Middle East, which is a consequence of their policy of duplicity'. The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes the need for the control and annihilation of nuclear mass destructive weapons in the world and creation of several nuclear free zones, specifically that of the Middle East region, stressed Mohammadi. Expressing deep concern over India's recent underground nuclear test, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran deems it necessary that Southwestern Asian countries observe full restraint from turning the sensitive Asian area into a fireball of tension.

Mohammadi further invited the nations of the region to prevent an escalation of tension. Lack of a full participation of all nations in inking nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) should be interpreted as a measure of disregard of certain nuclear power nations, which is seen as a weakness in the treaty by non-nuclear power nations, Mohammadi further stated. The Islamic Republic of Iran shares a concordant voice with many countries and had earlier foreseen that such non-caring attitudes (by those nations) would lead to further nuclear testing meant to attain a precise technology of this inhuman horrendous weapon.

(IRNA)