Iran's FM: Israel main obstacle to regional stability, security

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said that Zionist regime of Israel is using war rhetoric against Iran to fulfill its political objectives, and described the regime as the main obstacle to stability and security in the region. Addressing a gathering at the headquarters of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Salehi stressed the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear energy program, and said, "During the last few centuries, we Iranians never launched a war but zealously have defended our country and will do so by all means. However, the statements on attacking Iran are against regional and international peace and security." "The Israeli ruling clan, who are war drum beaters, use the pretext of the Iranian nuclear threat for all political gains and games," Salehi noted. "Iran, as a member of the NPT, is working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is negotiating with the 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) to address the mutual concerns. However, Israel is not a party to any disarmament conventions, including the NPT, and is a major impediment for the Middle-East to be declared as a nuclear-free zone," the Iranian foreign minister said. "Israel is the most significant source of instability and insecurity in the region and, indeed," Salehi reiterated. Iran has warned that it would target Israel and its worldwide interests in case it comes under attack by the Tel Aviv, he said.