An Iranian Foreign Ministry official said the country has first presented idea of a Middle East free of nuclear weapons as he criticized Egyptian Foreign Minister's anti-Iranian remarks, ISNA reported.
"Comparison of Iranian and Israeli nuclear programs is unfounded and illogical," the Iranian official said adding, "Iran is the first country which has discussed the idea of Middle East free of nuclear weapons."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit has made claims on Iran's nuclear work in the 7th meeting of Egyptian ruling party.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran not only has been the first country which has raised the idea of Middle East without nuclear weapon, but also it has been initiator of a world free of weapons of mass destruction and nuclear arms."
The official also highlighted an international nuclear conference held in Tehran in April with the motto of "nuclear energy for all and nuclear weapon for none."
Iran is under four rounds of the UN sanctions and several other unilateral measures from the United States and the EU over its refusal to halt peaceful nuclear work.
The West accuses Tehran of pursuing a nuclear weapon program. Iran denies the allegation and insists its activities have a purely peaceful purpose.
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