The Islamic Republic has a “long history” of deceiving the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its nuclear enrichment program far exceeds that needed for civilian use, said Thomas Countryman, Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation.
Two-week talks that opened in Geneva on Monday to review progress in implementing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) were taking place in a difficult environment, he said.
North Korea, which is not attending the global talks having announced its withdrawal from the treaty a decade ago, presents a “dangerous challenge to regional peace”, he said. North Korea conducted its third test of a nuclear weapon in February.
“The actions of Iran and North Korea should concern every member of this conference,” Countryman told a news briefing.
“It is clear that if Iran succeeds in the project of constructing nuclear weapons, then it is not only the Helsinki meeting that becomes irrelevant, but it is in fact the entire credibility of this treaty.”
Countryman was referring to a decision last November to put off talks on banning atomic bombs in the Middle East that were due to have taken place in Helsinki in December.