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Nuclear-Armed States Say Iran Poses Threat to Nuclear Security
Iran pushes back, says it remains committed to NPT
Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, speaking a joint press conference by the P5 at the UN Office at Geneva on April 19, 2013. (Photo: U.S. Mission Geneva / Eric Bridiers)
Iran pushed back on Saturday against statements by the world's five big nuclear-armed states about its nuclear program and affirmed its commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Britain, China, Russia, the US and France, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council known as the P5, said that Iran and North Korea presented "serious challenges" to nuclear security.
"In the context of the nuclear test conducted by (North Korea) on February 12, 2013, and the continued pursuit of certain nuclear activities by Iran ... the P5 reaffirmed their concerns about these serious challenges to the non-proliferation regime," the group of nuclear weapons states said in a statement on Friday.
Dismissing the statements, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Saturday, "Iran, one of the first countries to sign the NPT, adheres to its commitments to the treaty."
Mehmanparast added that Iran "will continue its cooperation" with the UN atomic watchdog, the IAEA.
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