“We call for the full implementation of the 1995 Middle East Resolution, as it is an integral part of the deal which provided extension of Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in 1995,” Ala said in a statement delivered at the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)

He added that Syria reiterates its commitment to the outcomes of 1995, 2000 and 2010 NPT Review Conferences on the Middle East Nuclear Disarmament and other weapons of mass destruction, and Syria calls on all the state parties to respect their commitment to make the Middle East free from nuclear weapons.

“Syria considers that the basic criteria to make the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) a success depends on the serious implementation of the content of the Middle East Resolution issued by the 1995 Review and Extension Conference, and the full commitment of the parties concerned in making the Middle East an area free from WMD and Nuclear weapons.

He stressed that Israel’s continued refusal to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and other agreements calling for the elimination of weapons of mass destruction seriously poses a threat to the security of the region and its people.

“Israel’s refusal to subject its nuclear facilities to the comprehensive safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency is also a real threat to the internationally-adopted non-proliferation system,” Ala added.

Ala concluded by saying that Syria rejects the US and its allies’ continued efforts to involve the allegations of using chemical weapons in Syria in a bid to escape from their contracting obligations under the NPT to protect Israel.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said that before a “comprehensive, impartial and objective investigation” had been conducted into the incident, no party should “prejudge the results and come to conclusions randomly.”

He added that his country was “opposed to the wanton use of force or threat of force” and that “military means will lead us nowhere.”

Hassan Rouhani made the remarks in Sabzevar in northeastern Razavi Khorasan Province on Sunday.

Rouhani said that his government entered serious negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program in 2013 to show the world that Iranians are “a peaceful nation” and prove that sanctioning Iran for its nuclear activities was wrong, calling the Iranian diplomats soldiers who defended their homeland.

He said that at the start of his first term sanctions on Iran’s petrochemical, auto industry and precious stones were gradually lifted at the end of 2013, through the efforts of Iranian diplomats.

Rouhani pointed out that after signing the JCPOA in 2015, Iran’s oil sales doubled, banking transactions were resumed though not fully, and Iran gradually rejoined to the world economy as the trade with the world returned to normal.

The Iranian president criticized the US president Donald Trump for his claims that Iran fooled the United States when it signed the “the worst deal ever” with it, calling Trump’s words “nonsense and illogical.”

“That guy’s words are nonsense…we did not fool anyone…we reached an agreement that has been endorsed by the United Nations,” Rouhani said.

He went on to praise his administration’ performance during the four and half years saying that the world is praising Iran for its action [in reaching an agreement with the world on its nuclear program.]

The Iranian president stressed that his government’s achievements were obtained with the support of the Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Iranian people as well as Iran’s armed forces.

The president said “today, Americans may have some plans to deal with the JCPOA,” adding “they may either pull out of it or hurt it, or they may go a completely different way from that of Europe and the rest of the world.”

He emphasized that if US withdraws from the pact, it will regret it.

The Iranian president went on to stress that the United States cannot succeed against the Iranian nations as it has shown during the past 40 years.

Rouhani said that he has ordered different executive bodies to be ready for taking necessary measure [if US leaves the deal], adding that he had met with the official of Iran’s atomic agency few days ago to order them be ready for the future.

He touched upon the economic section’s readiness to tackle the US plots in the currency market saying “the economic sector has received the necessary orders.”

He went on to assure that the businessmen and manufactures that the government has stored enough foreign currencies to meet their demands.

The Iranian president predicted that Iran’s oil and non-oil income this year will exceed $ 100 billion, while the whole spending will not be more than $ 70 billion, so the government would not have any problem in terms of foreign currency.

Later in his remarks, Rouhani touched upon the issue of unity among all political factions in Iran, telling Trump that not to rely on division in Iran’s political structure.

President Rouhani stated “I would like to clearly say to the whole world, Europe, the United States, the West, the East that Iran will negotiate over its defensive weapons. We will build any weapons and missile we need and store them. we will not negotiate over our defensive power with anyone.”

He went on to reiterate that Iran will abide by its commitments and seeks engagement with the world.

“We are negotiating with Turkey and Russia about Syria. We are negotiating with different countries on Yemen, but I would like to say to the world that we will fight terrorism in every part of the region.”

“We do not allow you to create another ISIL in this area to fight the nations of the region, we want peace and stability in the region. We never want war and conflicts. Meanwhile, we strongly defend our interests and we will stand up against any conspiracy.”

“These statements are categorically rejected by us and we can’t work with the US on this basis,” Ryabkov was quoted by Sputnik Agency as saying in a response to the US statements on incidents of using chemical weapons in Syria.

He added that “It is enough to read the draft resolution submitted to the Security Council by our permanent representative yesterday to make sure that Russia specifically is the one who calls for a comprehensive and integrated investigation into all incidents of using chemical weapons in Syria and everywhere regardless of who used such weapons.”

The Russian diplomat said that the US exploits the Syrian issue and the false accusations to continue the policy of suppressing Russia, saying “yesterday, there were statements by US senior officials on the same issue, and all of them can be explained with the same idea which is that the US considers that it is the only right one and there couldn’t be any other view on what is taking place in Syria and on the level of the world.”

“Perhaps, this [lethal weapon supplies] will once again motivate loose cannons among those nationalists who are solely seeking to switch over to a use-of-force method to settle the situation in Donbass, an absolutely dead-end technique, which would unleash bloodshed again,” Peskov said.

Moscow’s stance on such possible deliveries has not changed, the Kremlin spokesman said.

The Kremlin press secretary added that official rebuttals in media reports about preparations for such weapon deliveries had started to come from Washington.
“So far, no decisions have been made [in the United States] on this score,” he said.

The Washington Post said earlier citing its sources in the US government that the Department of State had approved a commercial license for exports to Ukraine of Barrett M107A1 sniper systems, munitions and spare parts for them to the tune of $41.5 million.

“We have crossed the Rubicon, this are lethal weapons and I predict more will be coming,” the newspaper cited a senior congressional official.

The US Department of State has confirmed the licensing commercial export of US-manufactured lethal weapons to Ukraine.

“The Department of State has licensed the commercial export of a limited number of small arms and light weapons to Ukraine from US manufacturers,” a State Department official told TASS on Wednesday.

According to the official, Washington has “never had any policy that restricts such commercial sales.” “The United States reviews requests for sales and export license applications on a case by case basis and this one was no different,” he said.