I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the newest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, @Nihon Hidankyo. May their powerful efforts grow stronger and inspire even greater impact in the years to come.
The presence of Nihon Hidankyo and myself—as recent Nobel Peace Prize laureates—at this conference is, in itself, a response to one of the most urgent questions of our time: Why does the world still need nuclear disarmament?
Nihon Hidankyo has long stood for a world free of nuclear weapons—a commitment born from the catastrophic use of nuclear force against the people of Japan exactly 80 years ago in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I speak to you today from Iran—a country whose people have borne the heavy consequences of the ruling regime’s policies, including its nuclear program. These policies, pursued without the consent or participation of the Iranian people, have led to poverty, hardship, sanctions, international isolation, environmental devastation, and the constant shadow of war.
While
#Iran is rich not only in oil and gas but also in two vast and inexhaustible sources of clean energy, sun and wind, today we face widespread shortages of electricity and water across the country. The entire country is paralyzed for hours or even days without power or water, yet the regime possesses 400 kilograms of 60% enriched uranium that it now feels compelled to hide.
I must state here that in the case of Iran’s nuclear policy, the claim of it being “peaceful” is mere political rhetoric. We know well that the core issue has always been about power and competition. This truth is evident both in international negotiations and among the public.
Esteemed guests,
We are here to address a vital issue, one that concerns the fate of humanity and our shared home, planet Earth.
In a world where authoritarian governments pursue nuclear weapons to ensure their survival, and where invasions of one country by another are becoming “normal,” and as international institutions like the United Nations steadily lose their influence, the temptation for countries to pursue nuclear arms grows stronger.
The movement for nuclear disarmament has regressed in the face of the renewed ambition and drive of nations competing for nuclear superiority.
The discourse of peace and global peace movements have been weakened, and what we often see in global media is a normalization of war and genocide.
In such conditions, some believe the level of conflict and tension has risen so sharply that perhaps even today, it is already too late to prevent a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.
Esteemed participants,
Institutions like the International Atomic Energy Agency and Western governments can contain the predictable and foreseeable consequences of nuclear tensions—if they act without double standards.
But to truly solve this crisis, we need a global consensus and will to address the roots of these tensions and work to reduce them.
Does increasing global inequality, along with the regression and weakening of democracy, correlate with rising nuclear competition?
Do the world’s environmental crises have a relationship with escalating nuclear rivalry?
I won’t elaborate further—I only wish to point out that to resolve the nuclear crisis, we need consensus-building forces within international institutions, and among global and regional powers, so that instead of focusing only on the nuclear capabilities of various countries, we examine the causes of heightened regional and global tensions.
Honorable attendees,
When it comes to Iran, I can say with certainty that the Iranian people do not see their security, dignity, or power as dependent on the regime’s nuclear capability.
If they are given the opportunity to truly participate in determining their own destiny, they will choose democracy, freedom, equality, human rights, development, prosperity, constructive international relations, and cooperation with all the nations of the world~
#NargesMohammadi