Iran says Washington is in clear breach of the 1970 nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) by developing new atomic weapons and providing nuclear aid to Israel and India, according to a report by Reuters on Sunday. Western diplomats cited by the news service say that four working papers for a conference starting Monday on the treaty show that the Islamic Republic is trying to draw attention away from violations of the NPT in its own nuclear development program.
The conference is being held to prepare for a major conference next year that many countries hope will result in an overhaul of the document and agree on a plan to end loopholes that have enabled states like North Korea to develop atomic weapons under cover of civilian nuclear energy programs. Iran also criticizes Washington, Britain and France, for working to prevent it and other developing countries from having complete nuclear energy programs.