Countries in Mideast, Israel urged to join nuclear ban treaty, open facilities for inspection

By Askin Kiyagan

VIENNA (AA) – The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday reiterated the call on all countries in the Middle East, including Israel, to join the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

Speaking to reporters in the Austrian capital Vienna, Rafael Mariano Grossi urged all countries to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology.

In response to a question by Anadolu on the Israeli minister's nuking Gaza remark, the IAEA chief said it is "unacceptable."

There is a widely accepted approach around the world that a nuclear war cannot be won, therefore such a war should not happen, said Grossi, adding that irresponsible remarks about the use of nuclear weapons are "completely unacceptable."

Grossi also reminded that the IAEA General Assembly, the Board of Directors and he have made repeated calls to all countries in the Middle East, including Israel, to join the NPT and open all their nuclear facilities to a comprehensive nuclear inspection.

In an interview in early November, Israel's Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said: "One of Israel’s options in the war in Gaza is to drop a nuclear bomb on the Strip."

Later, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki filed a formal complaint with the IAEA against Israel over its minister's threat to drop a nuclear bomb on Gaza.