By Gabriel Ani
GENEVA (chatnewstv.com) — The anti-nuclear advocacy group International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War on Saturday condemned U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran as “incredibly dangerous and counterproductive,” warning they could trigger regional war and even nuclear escalation, and called for an immediate halt to military action and a return to negotiations.
In a statement issued after the attacks, IPPNW said assaults on Iranian nuclear-related and military facilities risked mass civilian casualties and possible radioactive releases, while undermining diplomatic efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.
“The unprovoked strikes … are incredibly dangerous and counterproductive,” the group said. “The situation could escalate into a regional war and ultimately lead to the use of nuclear weapons — the very thing the world most needs to prevent.”
IPPNW criticized Washington and Israel for what it described as decades of missed diplomatic opportunities to address concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, including proposals backed by the United Nations and parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to establish a Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone. It also faulted U.S. President Donald Trump for withdrawing during his first term from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the group said had constrained Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s foreign minister who has mediated recent U.S.-Iran talks, also condemned the strikes, saying “active and serious negotiations have, once again, been undermined.” He added that neither U.S. interests nor global peace were served by the attacks.
The physicians’ group said there was “no military solution” to nuclear proliferation risks in the Middle East and urged all countries to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a U.N.-backed accord aimed at eliminating existing arsenals and preventing states from acquiring nuclear weapons.
“The need for regional and international efforts to negotiate a nuclear-weapons-free Middle East have never been more urgent,” IPPNW said.
