Oman stresses need for nuclear-weapon-free zone in Middle East

Oman has stressed that a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East is an urgent need that would bring great political, geopolitical, economic and humanitarian benefits to the region and the world.

Advantages would include enhanced security and stability, increased regional and international cooperation, confidence building, trade and investment improvements, increased opportunities for access to civil nuclear technology, reduced military spending and the creation of a more stable political landscape.

The comments were made in a statement by Dr Salem bin Issa Al-Maashani, Director of the Office of Disarmament and Arms Control Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, during a meeting of the Second Preparatory Committee for the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons 2026 at the United Nations in Geneva.

Oman called on the depositary and sponsoring states of the 1995 resolution to fulfill their obligations and called on the international community to continue its commitment to supporting the implementation of the results and outcomes of the 1995, 2000 and 2010 review conferences.

The statement said the Sultanate adheres to multilateral diplomatic work, dialogue, cooperation and transparency with sisterly and friendly countries. It added that the repeated disruption of the work of the review conference of the treaty reduced the credibility of the non-proliferation system and the interests of the countries of the region.

It said Oman regrets the obstruction of the 2015 conference from producing a final document by two depositary states of the treaty and sponsors of the 1995 resolution in favour of Israel.

It said the obstruction disregarded the non-proliferation system as Israel is not a party to the treaty and its nuclear programme is surrounded by ambiguity, lack of transparency and blatant disregard for efforts aimed at limiting the use of weapons.

The statement said this is a serious violation of the purposes of the international disarmament system and a violation of international law that the international community must condemn and exert urgent pressure to ensure Israel implements Security Council Resolution No. 487 of 1981.

The resolution compels Israel, without any precondition and without any negotiations, to subject its nuclear facilities to the comprehensive safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency and to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear state and to punish such irresponsible threats.

Oman called on the 2026 Review Conference and its Preparatory Committee to support the implementation of the 1995 resolution on the Middle East, to reaffirm the commitment to its implementation, to come up with clear results regarding it and to acknowledge the progress made.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.