Qatar urges IAEA oversight of all Israeli nuclear facilities

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed in a statement that Doha has appealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to subject all Israeli nuclear facilities to the inspection and regulation of the global nuclear body.

At a session of the UN atomic agency on Saturday, Qatar’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and International Organizations in Vienna, Jassim Yacoub al-Hammadi, also urged the Tel Aviv regime to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). 

“Hammadi underscored the need for the international community and its institutions to uphold their commitments under resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, the IAEA, and the 1995 Review Conference of the NPT, which called on Israel to subject all its nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards,” the Qatari statement read.

The Qatari ambassador also appealed for “intensified international efforts” to bring Israel into the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) as a non-nuclear entity,” the Qatari foreign ministry noted.

It added that all Middle Eastern countries, except for the Israeli regime, are parties to the NPT and have effective safeguard agreements with the IAEA.

Israel is estimated to possess 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, making it the sole possessor of non-conventional arms in West Asia.

It has refused to either allow inspections of its nuclear facilities by the IAEA or sign the NPT.

‘Grave threat’: Iran says Israel’s nukes endangering world, blasts US nuclear spending spree

The Iranian foreign minister says the international community must push the Israeli regime to join the NPT and put all its nuclear facilities under the IAEA Safeguards.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Hammadi noted that Israel continues its aggressive policies, including extremist calls for the forced displacement of Palestinians, escalation of military offensives against cities and refugee camps in the West Bank, blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and maintaining restrictions on the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The top Qatari diplomat noted that Doha submitted a written memorandum last week to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding a request for an advisory opinion based on the UN General Assembly resolution of December 19, 2024.

“The request seeks clarification on Israel’s obligations concerning the activities of the United Nations, other international organizations, and third-party states,” Hammadi pointed out.

He emphasized that Qatar’s memorandum affirmed Israel’s duty to allow the UN and other international organizations, particularly UNRWA and humanitarian agencies, to operate in the Israeli-occupied territories.

“The memorandum also called on Israel to respect and protect the property of the UN and other international organizations, including schools, medical facilities, transport infrastructure, and water resources, as well as their personnel.”

Hammadi finally stressed the need for the international community and its institutions to take decisive action to compel Israel to implement international resolutions, recognize Palestinians' right to self-determination and that the establishment of their independent state, restore security and stability in the West Asia region, and avert further global risks.

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