Israel, Iran clash over nukes

Israel and Iran clashed at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, accusing each other of threatening Middle East security peace with their nuclear programs, AFP reported.

Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom launched the verbal battle by denouncing what he described as the "evil regime" in Iran and demanded the International Atomic Energy Agency to force Tehran to end its nuclear program.

Israel and the United States claim that Iran is covertly working on an atomic weapons program. But Iran insists that its nuclear plans are strictly for the peaceful generation of technology and accuses the Jewish state of concealing its own nuclear arms program.

As Shalom spoke, the IAEA board of governors met in Vienna to discuss a draft resolution, submitted by Britain, France and Germany and backed by Washington, demanding the referral of the Islamic Republic to the UN Security Council, which can impose economic sanctions.

"I call on them to stop this evil regime (Tehran) from acquiring nuclear weapons," Shalom told assembly members, referring to the IAEA governors. "The security and stability of the entire globe is at stake."

"This is why it is essential and urgent that the Security Council take action," he added. "The international community must rally as one and use all the means at its disposal to stop Iran, before it goes nuclear."

Describing Iran's nuclear plans as the "central threat" to global security, Shalom said: "We must not allow the fate of mankind to rest in the hands of the tyrants in Tehran."

"Unsubstantiated allegations"

Hours later, Iranian envoy Ahmad Sadeghi was allowed to respond to the Israeli accusations and slammed the "unsubstantiated allegations" against his country from "a representative of the Israeli regime", according to Reuters.

Sadeghi told the General Assembly that it wasn’t surprising that Israel "would make such baseless and fabricated propaganda to remedy for its illegitimacy."

"Israel's nuclear danger, and its missile capability, coupled with its wicked behavior and satanic intentions present a real threat not only to regional peace and security but also to the whole world," he said.

Israel is believed to be the only nuclear power in the Middle East. Although it has never admitted to having nuclear weapons, it is thought to possess an arsenal of about 200 warheads.

"This (Israeli) regime should face a united front and must be kept under continuing pressure to relinquish its nuclear program and place all its nuclear facilities under international monitoring," the Iranian delegate said.

Commenting on Sadeghi's speech, Israeli UN ambassador Dan Gillerman said: "I just want to express our appreciation for a lecture on human rights, on world terror and on nuclear proliferation from one of the world's greatest experts in that field."

On Sunday, the Israeli Foreign Minister criticized the proposals unveiled by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before the General Assembly to allay Western concerns over Tehran's nuclear program, claiming that they were an attempt by Iran to buy time to advance its atomic program.

Israel seeks UN seat

Israel's Foreign Minister told the UN General Assembly on Tuesday that Israel would seek a seat on the powerful Security Council for the first time, according to The Associated Press news agency.

Shalom said that Israel wants to take its "rightful place, as a country with full and equal rights in this (United Nations) institution. “That is why I have decided to present for the first time, Israel’s candidacy for the membership of the UN Security Council ,” he said.

The earliest that could happen is 2017, Israeli mission spokeswoman Anat Friedman said.

Israel's position in the United Nations has improved in the past year, with a seminar to address anti-Semitism and a special General Assembly meeting to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the liberation of Nazi concentration camps.

And in June, the Jewish state was elected one of 21 vice presidents for the 60th General Assembly session that started last week, a small step but an important move because Israel had long been denied presence on key UN bodies.