US-Iran Clash at UN as Tehran Assumes NPT Conference Vice-Chair, Sparking Controversy
The US and Iran engaged in a heated exchange at the UN over Iran's nuclear program and its selection as Vice-Chair of the NPT Review Conference. The US called the appointment an "insult," while Iran dismissed the criticism as "groundless."
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 16:24
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US-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency (CNA) New York, April 27, comprehensive foreign report – The United States and Iran had a fierce verbal clash today at the United Nations (UN), with both sides confronting each other on Iran's nuclear program and Iran's election as Vice-Chair of the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" (NPT) Review Conference.
Reuters reported that the 11th NPT Review Conference opened today at the UN Headquarters in New York, aiming to review the implementation of the treaty which came into effect in 1970.
Do Hung Viet, the conference chairman and Vietnam's Ambassador to the UN, pointed out that the 34 vice-chairpersons of the conference were nominated by different groups, and Iran was selected by the "Non-Aligned Movement and other countries."
Christopher Yeaw, US Assistant Secretary of State, stated at the conference that Iran's appointment as Vice-Chair is an "insult" to the NPT.
Yeaw stated: "It is an undisputed fact that Iran has long shown contempt for its commitments under the NPT."
He criticized Tehran for refusing to cooperate with the UN's nuclear watchdog to address concerns related to its nuclear program, calling this appointment list "extremely shameful and undermines the credibility of this conference."
Reza Najafi, Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), countered the US remarks as "groundless and politically motivated."
He told the conference: "It is simply untenable for the United States, as the only country in history to have used nuclear weapons and continuously expanded and modernized its nuclear arsenal, to try to position itself as an arbiter of compliance."
The nuclear weapons issue has been at the core of the conflict between the US, Iran, and Israel in the past two months. US President Donald Trump reiterated on the 26th that Iran will absolutely not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
For a long time, Iran has demanded that Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium, emphasizing that the program is for peaceful purposes only; however, Western countries worry that it could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Although Iran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons, both the IAEA and US intelligence systems have separately assessed that Tehran did possess a nuclear weapons development program, which only ceased in 2003. (Compiler: Liu Shu-chin) 1150428
Central News Agency (CNA) New York, April 27, comprehensive foreign report – The United States and Iran had a fierce verbal clash today at the United Nations (UN), with both sides confronting each other on Iran's nuclear program and Iran's election as Vice-Chair of the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" (NPT) Review Conference.
Reuters reported that the 11th NPT Review Conference opened today at the UN Headquarters in New York, aiming to review the implementation of the treaty which came into effect in 1970.
Do Hung Viet, the conference chairman and Vietnam's Ambassador to the UN, pointed out that the 34 vice-chairpersons of the conference were nominated by different groups, and Iran was selected by the "Non-Aligned Movement and other countries."
Christopher Yeaw, US Assistant Secretary of State, stated at the conference that Iran's appointment as Vice-Chair is an "insult" to the NPT.
Yeaw stated: "It is an undisputed fact that Iran has long shown contempt for its commitments under the NPT."
He criticized Tehran for refusing to cooperate with the UN's nuclear watchdog to address concerns related to its nuclear program, calling this appointment list "extremely shameful and undermines the credibility of this conference."
Reza Najafi, Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), countered the US remarks as "groundless and politically motivated."
He told the conference: "It is simply untenable for the United States, as the only country in history to have used nuclear weapons and continuously expanded and modernized its nuclear arsenal, to try to position itself as an arbiter of compliance."
The nuclear weapons issue has been at the core of the conflict between the US, Iran, and Israel in the past two months. US President Donald Trump reiterated on the 26th that Iran will absolutely not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons.
For a long time, Iran has demanded that Washington recognize its right to enrich uranium, emphasizing that the program is for peaceful purposes only; however, Western countries worry that it could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.
Although Iran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons, both the IAEA and US intelligence systems have separately assessed that Tehran did possess a nuclear weapons development program, which only ceased in 2003. (Compiler: Liu Shu-chin) 1150428