ISLAMABAD: Iran has welcomed the defense pact between Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a “beginning for a comprehensive regional security system with the cooperation of the Muslim states of West Asia in the political, security, and defense domains”.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated, “Iran welcomes the defensive pact between the two brotherly Muslim countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”, while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed landmark mutual defence agreement, under which any aggression against one state will be considered an attack on both.
The pact was signed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh last week.
The Iranian president further said that Tehran does not intend to build nuclear weapons.
'Will never seek to build a nuclear bomb'
"I hereby declare once more before this assembly that Iran has never sought and will never seek to build a nuclear bomb. We do not seek nuclear weapons” he said, adding that his country supports a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.
Pezeshkian accused the US and its allies of double standards, saying they expand nuclear arsenals while pressuring Iran.
He condemned Britain, France and Germany for voting to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, calling it done “at the behest of the United States of America.”
“In doing so, they set aside good faith,” said Pezeshkian.
'Betrayal of peace'
Blaming Israel and the US for destabilizing the region and betraying diplomacy with military strikes on Iran, he called the assaults a “grave betrayal of peace.”
Displaying images of those killed, Pezeshkian delivered his first UN address since the 12-day Israel-Iran war, which Tehran says claimed the lives of many senior military and political leaders.
On Ukraine, he urged a negotiated end to the conflict, saying Iran “hopes that the efforts to bring an end to the war in Ukraine may result in a just and lasting agreement between Russia and Ukraine and bring solace to the human suffering caused by this crisis.”
The Iranian leader also voiced solidarity with Qatar following recent strikes.
“Iran condemns the aggression of the Israeli regime against Qatar, and declares solidarity with the people of Qatar,” he said.
