Israel Has Nuclear Weapons But Is Not Subject To Inspection, Iranian President Says
According to a report by Al-Jazeera on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has accused Israel and Western powers of applying a double standard to nuclear issues, questioning why Iran faces demands for international inspections while Israel, which is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Pezeshkian made the remarks on Wednesday, September 23, during his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he used the platform to defend Iran’s nuclear programme and criticise Israel’s military actions in the region.
“There is a bomb in Israel, but they ask inspectors to come to Iran,” Pezeshkian said, according to reports of his speech, arguing that Tehran was being subjected to international scrutiny while Israel faced comparatively less pressure.
The Iranian president questioned what he described as the inconsistency in the international community’s approach to the two countries.
He pointed out that Israel is not a signatory to the NPT, while Iran is a party to the treaty and has historically allowed international inspectors to monitor aspects of its nuclear activities.
Pezeshkian’s comments came amid an intensified dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme following months of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear programme is intended for peaceful purposes and has rejected accusations that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Pezeshkian has also previously said Tehran would not pursue a nuclear bomb.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency has raised concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities and its ability to verify the status of parts of the programme. A recent statement by Britain and other countries at the IAEA said Iran continued to face obligations concerning inspections and verification under international agreements.
During his UN address, Pezeshkian also sharply criticised Israel over its military campaign in Gaza.
He accused Israel of killing civilians and described its actions as terrorism, saying the country had targeted neighbourhoods and carried out assassinations.
Pezeshkian also accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and referred to the large number of Palestinian deaths reported since the conflict began.
The Iranian president’s remarks came as the humanitarian situation in Gaza remained a major issue at this year’s UN General Assembly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his opening address on September 22, said civilians in Gaza continued to pay a heavy price and called for an end to the fighting and increased humanitarian assistance.
Guterres also referred to the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures in the case concerning alleged violations of the Genocide Convention in Gaza and stressed that all parties must comply with international law and the court’s orders.
Pezeshkian argued that Iran had been subjected to sanctions and military attacks despite engaging in diplomatic discussions.
“They kill, we are sanctioned, we are punished,” he said, according to reports of his remarks.
He further accused Israel of acting as a terrorist organisation and alleged that Israeli forces had targeted civilians across Iranian cities.
The allegations form part of Tehran’s broader argument that Israel and its Western allies have applied inconsistent standards to Iran and Israel.
Pezeshkian also used his UN appearance to reiterate Iran’s position that it has a right to maintain a civilian nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment.
Recent reports from the UN General Assembly indicate that Tehran remains unwilling to abandon enrichment altogether, even as diplomatic contacts with Washington continue.
The dispute over inspections has become particularly sensitive following attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Earlier in the year, the United States and Iran disagreed publicly over whether Tehran had agreed to allow UN inspectors access to some nuclear sites.
The current diplomatic discussions are taking place alongside negotiations aimed at ending the wider conflict. Iranian and US representatives have held indirect talks in New York through mediators, with the Strait of Hormuz and sanctions emerging as major issues in the discussions.
COURTESY: GlobsNews
