An Iranian envoy to the United Nations has lashed out at Western powers for their efforts to incite Iranophobia in the Middle East, saying their ultimate goal is to sell weapons to the regional countries, Press TV reported.
"They (Western powers) seek to harm the brotherly ties among the people and governments in the region, and unnecessarily militarize the Middle East by inciting groundless fears such as Iranophobia with the aim of selling lethal and sophisticated weapons to the regional countries," said Seyyed Mohammad Ali Mottaqinejad, a member of the Iranian mission, in the Friday meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Iranian diplomat warned the foreign powers against embarking on any military adventure in the Middle East under the pretext of maintaining the regional security.
Mottaqinejad highlighted Iran's prominent role in opposing the use of weapons of mass destruction, citing Tehran's efforts to help shape a nuclear-free Middle East.
The US, Israel and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have used this allegation as a pretext to convince the UN Security Council to impose four rounds of sanctions on Iran.
Tehran has categorically refuted Western allegations, saying that as a signatory to the NPT and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to acquire and develop atomic technology for peaceful purposes.