BANGKOK, Thailand – A top Iranian lawmaker reiterated Tehran’s position on Monday calling on the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) to make concerted efforts to eradicate nuclear weapons from the world.

Addressing the IPU meeting in the Thai capital of Bangkok, Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi, the deputy speaker of the Iranian parliament, also said the Iranian nation is firm in its decision to take advantage of nuclear technology for peaceful civilian purposes.
Tehran has been insisting that its nuclear program is aimed to meet the country’s growing demand for energy, but the hegemonic powers keep spreading lies about Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities, Aboutorabi reiterated.
They are trying to undermine the Islamic Republic’s geopolitical and geostrategic position through pulling off some political trickery, such as imposing sanctions and threatening national security, he said.
""However, such lies and trickery have always backfired, because our nation has remained vigilant at all times,” the senior MP stressed.
Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its nuclear activities are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UN nuclear inspectors have repeatedly reported that no diversion has been noticed in Iran's nuclear activities.
The top lawmaker told the assembly that the Iranian nation is seeking economic, scientific, and technological progress as well as developing security and establishing close economic and political cooperation with other nations around the globe.
Aboutorabi called on the IPU participants to realize their full potential for promoting peace, security, and democracy as well as defending human rights across the world.
""We are all obligated to adopt new policies towards those who have violated rights of other nations.""
Condemning the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian lands, the deputy speaker said it is “absolutely essential that Muslim states reach a consensus to start a campaign against the Zionist regime's cruel acts.”
The lawmaker also censured the U.S. for endorsing Israeli criminal acts in the occupied territories.
Israel has announced it plans to build more than 1,600 housing units in East Beit-ul-Moqaddas (East Jerusalem), which will effectively diminish the prospect of an independent Palestinian state in the future.
The plan has drawn a widespread criticism by the world over the past weeks; however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed international criticism, saying that his government would continue building in Beit-ul-Moqaddas.
To counter Israeli moves, the Iranian parliamentary delegation in the conference has prepared a resolution censuring Israel's settlement expansion.
The resolution has already been approved by the Asia-Pacific committee and now is making headway in the 122nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting.
The 122nd Inter-Parliamentary Union assembly, opened on Saturday in Bangkok, was attended by high-ranking officials from about 130 countries around the world.
The 121st IPU meeting was held in Geneva from October 19 to 21, 2009, with the participation of Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
The IPU was established in 1889. The union is the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and cooperation among peoples and for the firm establishment of democracy