Iran stresses complete annihilation of chemical weapons in world

EghtesadOnline: Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Alireza Jahangiri stressed complete annihilation of chemical weapons stockpiles in the world.

News ID: ۷۷۰۳۷۴

15 October 2016

Addressing the 83rd session of the Executive Council of the Organization which was meeting October 11-14 in the Hague, the Iranian official urged all countries owning such weapons to comply with their commitments to the Convention on Chemical Weapons.

Given the universal nature of the Convention, he also called on non-member states to speedily join the Convention without offering any preconditions, reports IRNA.

He also hailed the progress achieved so far in the field of destruction of chemical weapons in Syria and highlighted the need for avoiding political motivations in this regard.

Jahangiri also demanded international cooperation for denying access to chemical weapons by the terrorist groups.

Noting that the terrorist groups’ use of chemical weapons is a serious threat to the international peace and security, he called on all member states not to provide financial and military support to terrorist groups.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which entered into force in 1997. As of today OPCW has 192 Member States, who are working together to achieve a world free of chemical weapons.

The Council is the executive organ of the Organization and consists of 41 members who are elected by the Conference to serve two-year terms.