Gharibabadi condemns “double standards” over Israel’s nuclear weapons

Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, has condemned what he calls the international community’s “double standards” toward Israel’s nuclear weapons. The statement was made on Saturday, on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

“How can we talk about disarmament while ignoring the nuclear arsenal of the Zionist regime?!” Gharibabadi wrote in a social media post, as reported by Al Jazeera. “Global disarmament, peace and security cannot be achieved with double standards and immunity for a particular regime.”

Israel officially pursues a policy of “nuclear ambiguity”, neither confirming nor denying possession of nuclear weapons, but analysts believe the country holds around 90 nuclear warheads.

Iran has repeatedly denied seeking to build nuclear weapons, insisting its nuclear program serves only peaceful energy and medical purposes.