Iran \'strongly rejects\' US chemical weapons accusations

Iran 'strongly rejects' US chemical weapons accusations

AFP  |  Tehran 

"strongly rejected" on Friday US accusations that it has a programme and accused of breaching its own commitments to the international watchdog.

The US allegations are the latest salvo against from the administration of Donald Trump, who earlier this year pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between major powers and and reimposed crippling unilateral sanctions.

"The .. has made, as is its habit, baseless accusations against the Islamic republic which we strongly reject," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Such incorrect and false accusations are due solely to enmity towards the Iranian nation and are intended to deflect international attention from its own broken commitments and continued support for the Zionist regime's and for terrorist groups."

The US accused on Thursday of failing to declare a programme to the global watchdog in breach of international agreements.

US told the in that was also seeking deadly nerve agents for offensive purposes.

Iran promised its delegation would provide the OPCW with a detailed reply and in turn accused the US of being the "only member state that has a and has, until now, not acted on its obligations to destroy it."

Iran is one of the few countries that has been attacked with chemical weapons since the end of World War I in 1918.

Chemical weapons used by Saddam Hussein's during its 1980-88 war with Iran killed tens of thousands of Iranian soldiers and civilians.

Iran has expressed strong opposition ever since to the use or possession of chemical weapons by any country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Fri, November 23 2018. 16:10 IST