Iran calls for end to all nuclear arms after N Korea test

TEHRAN, Iran (AFP) – Sanctions-hit Iran on Tuesday called for the destruction of all atomic weapons in the world after North Korea announced that it had staged its most powerful nuclear test yet.

“We need to come to the point where no country has any nuclear weapons and at the same time all weapons of mass destruction and nuclear arms need to be destroyed,” foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said when asked for a response to Pyongyang’s claim to have detonated a “miniaturised” device.

“At the same all countries should have the right to make use of nuclear activities for peaceful purposes,” Mehmanparast said at his weekly press briefing.

Iran has been slapped with numerous international sanctions due to its controversial nuclear programme, which the West insists masks a drive for atomic weapons despite repeated denials by Tehran.

“For such a world to exist those who are the front runners in producing the nuclear … who are proud of their nuclear stockpiles .. who upgrade them and allocate budgets to maintain them, need to be the first people to disarm so that no country would pursue these weapons,” Mehmanparast said.

The test by the pariah nation has been met with the world condemnation.