Saudi Gazette report

NEW YORK — Saudi Arabia’s new Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil said that Iran’s practices increase the risks of nuclear proliferation.

Al-Wasil was speaking at the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons on Wednesday.

He said that freeing the Middle East from nuclear weapons is a collective responsibility.

“Transparency is necessary for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Iran’s lack of transparency with the International Atomic Energy Agency violates the UN Charter.”

He pledged the Kingdom’s support to the expansion of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Al-Wasil indicated that Saudi Arabia supports all efforts aimed at preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

He stressed the necessity of confronting nuclear proliferation in the Middle East as this threatens the Middle East and the world as a whole.