Kuwait has reiterated its call for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, emphasizing that their total eradication is the only reliable way to prevent their use and ensure international security. The comments were made by Jarrah Al-Anzi, diplomatic attaché at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, during discussions at the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Disarmament and International Security on Monday.
Al-Anzi reaffirmed Kuwait’s commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and stressed the importance of balanced implementation of its three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy. He expressed disappointment that the 2026 NPT Review Conference failed to reach consensus on a final document but emphasized that this setback does not relieve states of their existing obligations, particularly under Article VI, which calls for nuclear disarmament. He urged practical, verifiable steps toward disarmament within clear timelines, along with legally binding, effective, and unconditional security assurances for non-nuclear-weapon states against the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons pending their full elimination.
Addressing concerns related to Iran’s nuclear program, Al-Anzi highlighted the significance of resolutions adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and their reporting to the IAEA Director General, the UN Security Council, and the General Assembly. He called on Iran to meet its safeguards obligations by providing necessary information and allowing inspectors access to relevant sites. According to Al-Anzi, the peaceful nature of nuclear activities depends on their verifiability, and cooperation with the IAEA constitutes a legal obligation that must be respected.
In addition to these points, Kuwait renewed its support for establishing a Middle East zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, referencing the 1995 resolution calling for such a region. Al-Anzi expressed hope for progress toward a legally binding treaty with inclusive participation from all regional states, noting Oman’s role in presiding over the seventh session of the conference of parties on this matter.
Kuwait also urged the international community to press Israel to join the NPT as a non-nuclear-weapon state and subject all its nuclear facilities to comprehensive IAEA safeguards. Al-Anzi warned that Israel’s current exemption undermines regional security and the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime, asserting that sustainable security cannot be achieved through selective or inconsistent application of international obligations.
Looking ahead, Kuwait announced its upcoming presidency of the IAEA Board of Governors for 2026-2027, pledging to uphold the independence of technical assessments, support consensus-building on verification and implementation of commitments, and promote technical cooperation alongside the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Separately, the Kuwaiti Ministry of Justice participated in the 13th session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, held in Vienna. The ongoing session, concluding October 23, is examining draft resolutions including the establishment of a drafting committee for an additional protocol focusing on environmental crimes. The Kuwaiti delegation was led by Senior Counsellor Bader Al-Mis’ad, director of the Kuwait Institute for Judicial and Legal Studies, and included legal researchers and translators from the ministry’s International Relations Department.
Al-Anzi concluded his statement by emphasizing that the credibility of the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime depends on states honoring their commitments and making tangible progress toward a nuclear weapons-free world, urging the translation of international resolutions into concrete actions that safeguard global security and uphold the rights of nations to peace and development.