TEHRAN - Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency has insisted on Tehran’s position that the Zionist regime of Israel is the only obstacle to a Middle East without nuclear weapons.

In an address to the 59th session of the IAEA’s General Conference in Vienna on Thursday, Reza Najafi highlighted the importance of inspection of Israel’s nuclear facilities by the IAEA.

On Thursday an attempt by Iran, Arab states and some other non-aligned states to censure Israel over its “nuclear capabilities” failed.

The countries forced a vote on their resolution expressing “concern about the Israeli nuclear capabilities” and urging the Tel Aviv regime to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Those opposed to the resolution were in the majority. Of nations present for the vote, 43 were in favor, 61 were against and 33 abstained.

Najafi said Israel’s nuclear activities pose threat against regional security.

He noted that the only way to have a region free of nuclear weapons is exerting pressure against the Zionist regime to unconditionally sign the NPT and accept inspection of its nuclear activities by the IAEA.

The Zionist regime is known as the only country in the region that possesses nuclear weapons and has never allowed inspections of its sites.

NA/PA