May 3rd, 2010
01:13 PM ET

Iran's leader deplores nuclear arms

Low-level delegates from the United States, United Kingdom and France walked out Monday as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blasted the U.S. and Israel at a global gathering on disarmament.

Ahmadinejad said he deplored the possession and use of nuclear arms and called the weapons "a fire against humanity" rather than weapons "for defense."

Ahmadinejad blasted the United States and Israel.

He said those who "carried out the first atomic bombardment are among the most hated individuals in human history," a reference to the U.S. bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.

He also said Israel, which he called the Zionist regime, has been stockpiling nuclear warheads and threatens its neighbors with unconditional U.S. support. Israel has never confirmed that it possesses nuclear arms.

Western nations say Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons and has been working to stop their efforts. Tehran says its program is strictly aimed at developing nuclear energy and Ahmadinejad reiterated that stance.

He spoke at the Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The conference has been held every five years for nations to discuss how to cut the world's stockpile of nuclear weapons.

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Filed under: Iran
soundoff (6 Responses)
  1. Ky'Anne

    I hear voices and was told that they are getting ready for a holy war in which they are planning to murder christians in mass number. Attending churches will become frightening becuse you run the risk of dying from a bomb, fire, or something. No one can figure out what is going on down here but i say this...to those who understrand... IT IS TIME...Turn Your Lights On!

    May 3, 2010 at 1:50 pm | Report abuse |
  2. yoyo

    i wonder if iranians are educated or just dumb

    May 3, 2010 at 1:58 pm | Report abuse |
  3. JR

    Did he invoke the Mahdi to hasten his return and begin the war to destroy the infidels? He has in his previous UN speeches. It is funny that the media never covers the contradictions in he speeches, wherein he claims to advocate for peace but publicly prays for the beginning of the destruction of non-believers. Seems like there might be a compelling story there, but it receives no coverage.

    May 3, 2010 at 2:45 pm | Report abuse |
  4. Tanveer Khan

    Iran is acting very irresponsibly in the region.
    However, we have to be fair to all..

    Fact of the matter is Israel has illegal nuclear weapons and every time this is brought up, the US and France walks out of the UN meetings.
    If a resolution is introduced to look into the matters, it is blocked or vetoed by the US again.

    I mean what good is this security council is if we cannot discuss these issues and instead walkout and veto it?
    Huh?

    May 3, 2010 at 5:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • JS

      I believe that this is because Israel's possession of nuclear weapons is one of the only deterrents to the surrounding Arab states that would gladly invade Israel as they have unsuccessfully many times before.

      July 12, 2010 at 12:37 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Jonathon Tate

    why cant vacuum trucks be put on barges and suck up some of the oil and sell it. 1 barge can hold how much and one truck can suck up how much per minute = much less in the water.

    May 3, 2010 at 7:13 pm | Report abuse |