Use of nuclear arms ‘haram’, says Khamenei

TEHRAN - Use of nuclear arms is “haram” (religiously forbidden) and it is necessary for all to protect mankind from the grave disaster, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said.

“Any use or even threat to use nuclear weapons is a serious and material violation of indisputable rules of humanitarian law and a cogent example of a war crime,” Khamenei was quoted as saying Saturday by IRNA news agency.

The Iranian supreme leader said: “There is no winner in a nuclear war and entering such a war is irrational and inhuman.”

He stressed the need to find “sensible and practical ways and solutions to counter the threat of nuclear weapons against humanity.”

The Ayatollah also urged participants at the First International Conference on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, which began here Saturday, to take “serious steps towards protecting world peace and stability.”

Officials and ministers from 60 countries are taking part in the conference.