Bahrain tells Iran to cooperate with IAEA efforts to revive 2015 nuclear deal

TDT | Manama           

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday called on Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency to make the Middle Eastern region free of nuclear weapons. The Kingdom also urged Iran to refrain from harming the region and neighbouring countries, which are committed to establishing a zone free of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

The comments came as Dr Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri addressed the 66th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

“Nuclear weapons and their proliferation are a threat to regional and international peace and stability,” the Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the UN said. He also reminded world nations that abandoning nuclear weapons is the only way to ensure peace and stability.

In this regard, Dr Bucheeri also voiced the keenness of Bahrain to strengthen its relationship with IAEA to develop capabilities in the peaceful use of atomic and nuclear energy. His comments also spotlight the warning of Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is ready to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia amid the war in Ukraine.

Efforts to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal had also hit a wall over insistence by Iran on the closure of the UN investigations. Callling nuclear weapons and their proliferation threat to regional and international peace and stability, Bahraini envoy reminded the conference that it requires collective action from all.

Bahrain to sign ARASIA

Dr Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri also revealed that Bahrain seeks to sign the co-operative Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology (ARASIA).

Bahrain will also approve the “Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources,” he added. Dr Bucheeri further called on all states to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and subject their nuclear programmes and facilities to the comprehensive safeguards system of IAEA.

He appreciated the efforts of Kuwait during its presidency of the 65th session, thanking Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the Agency, for promoting international cooperation in the nuclear field for peace and development.

Hailing the technical cooperation programme as one of the main pillars of the agency’s work, he said, “Since its accession to IAEA, Bahrain has been focused on strengthening its infrastructure for radiological and nuclear safety and security, developing techniques for scintillation analysis, paired plasma mass spectrometry and TMR analysis.”

“Bahrain has also developed regulatory infrastructure for radiological and nuclear safety and a laboratory for nuclear analysis techniques,” he added.