By Sadiq Abdulfatah

Iran has criticised the United States over the continued expansion and modernisation of its nuclear arsenal, warning that Washington’s nuclear policies pose a threat to humanity.

In a statement released to mark the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Iran’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna said the attacks remain a painful reminder of the devastating effects of nuclear weapons and the urgent need to eliminate them.

The mission said preventing similar tragedies requires a genuine global commitment to nuclear disarmament and the creation of a world free of weapons of mass destruction.

It noted that the atomic bombings caused widespread destruction, mass deaths and long-lasting radiation, with the effects continuing to impact generations born after the attacks.

Iran, a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), reaffirmed its support for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons while maintaining its right to the peaceful use of nuclear science and energy.

The statement also accused the United States of remaining the only country to have used nuclear weapons in war and said Washington continues to expand and modernise its nuclear arsenal despite its obligations under the NPT to pursue nuclear disarmament.

The statement coincided with the 81st anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Speaking during the commemoration, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui warned that the continued reliance on nuclear deterrence by major powers could lead to another tragedy like Hiroshima or Nagasaki. He said treating nuclear weapons as a means of security only increases the risk of future violence and pushes the goal of a nuclear-free world further away.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also renewed calls for a world without nuclear weapons, describing Hiroshima as a symbol of resilience, renewal and hope. He said the world must work to ensure that the threat or use of nuclear weapons becomes unthinkable.

The anniversary also comes as Japan debates possible changes to its long-standing non-nuclear policy. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government is considering reviewing the country’s three non-nuclear principles, including the rule that bars the introduction of nuclear weapons into Japanese territory.

Source: Press Tv