MOSCOW, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Russia has voiced its concerns regarding the potential repercussions of the situation surrounding Iran on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
According to RIA Novosti, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday that developments since last year have raised alarm over not only violations of fundamental principles of international law, but also threats to the global nuclear non-proliferation.
Israel launched a lightning attack on Iran's military and nuclear sites on June 13, kickstarting a conflict dubbed the "12-day war." Ryabkov reminisced about the conflict, during which nuclear-related facilities, mostly under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), became targets of attacks.
"Since all the targets under attack at that time were largely under IAEA safeguards, why was all this created if safeguards guarantee nothing?" Ryabkov said.
Looking ahead to the next NPT review conference scheduled for April, Ryabkov said he is concerned about the atmosphere at the forum and the potential impact of recent events on non-proliferation. He warned that the NPT, which has stood as a bedrock of global strategic stability for over half a century, could now find itself under immense pressure. ■
