Iran plans nuclear disarmament summit

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TEHRAN, April 4 (UPI) -- Iran's foreign ministry says its planned international conference on nuclear disarmament in Tehran has been widely welcomed.

Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the conference, titled "Nuclear energy for all, nuclear weapons for none," will be held in Tehran on April 17 and 18, Iran's Press TV reported. "Officials from various countries, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations have been invited to attend the conference."

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, said senior officials from the IAEA and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization will also attend the summit, Press TV reported.

Mehmanparast said all countries have the right to use peaceful nuclear energy. "We believe the world must be free from nuclear weapons," he said.

Western nations are considering sanctions against Iran, believing the country's nuclear enrichment program will be used to develop nuclear weapons.