World must work against chemical weapons

A top Iranian commander has called for global efforts to prohibit the production of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical arms.
Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said on Saturday that freedom-seeking nations should work to prevent production, development and use of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction by the Israeli regime and hegemonic powers especially the United States.
General Jafari made the remarks in a message to a ceremony to mark the 27th anniversary of the fatal chemical attack on the Iranian city of Sardasht by the regime of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on June 28, 1987.
Over 1,000 people were killed and more than 8,000 were permanently disabled due to the attack.
The Iranian commander also stated that the chemical attack on Sardasht was not given due attention by world public opinion because of restrictions imposed on mainstream news media at that time.
According to reports, the use of chemical weapons by Baghdad during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) inflicted over 100,000 casualties on the Iranian side, with many others dying on a daily basis as a result of their injuries.
Around 20,000 Iranian soldiers were killed instantly by nerve gas.
Sardasht was the main target of Iraq’s chemical bombardments during the war.
The city was attacked with mustard gas bombs twice.
Many children gradually lost their vision after birth as a result of the chemical bombardment. A quarter of the population of that time is still suffering from severe illnesses.
Iran has slammed Western countries for providing the former Iraqi regime with chemical arms in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, in a message on Sunday, Director-General of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu sympathized with victims of chemical attack in Sardasht.
Uzumcu said 27 years ago, the peace-loving people of Sardasht were brutally attacked by chemical weapons.
He also deeply sympathized with the people of the city who are still suffering from the consequences of the attack.
Uzumcu further underlined the need for banning the use of chemical weapons throughout the globe.

Minister visits chemical victims

Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi, who was in Sardasht to participate in the marking ceremony, visited some of the chemical attack victims and was briefed on the difficulties in procuring medicines and providing treatment.
Several officials accompanied the health minister during his visit, IRIB reported.
Meanwhile, a member of parliament from the cities of Piranshahr and Sardasht said the Foreign Ministry should seriously follow up the dossier of chemical injured victims in international tribunal and community.
Rasoul Khezri said unfortunately in spite of a lapse of 27 years from the bombardment, the issue has not been seriously followed up in international tribunals, yet.
He reminded the Iranian people have been the victims of international terrorism and added that the residents of Sardasht expected the Foreign Ministry to dispatch documents of this criminal act to the International Court of Justice in The Hague

A top Iranian commander has called for global efforts to prohibit the production of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical arms. Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said on Saturday that freedom-seeking nations should work to prevent production, development and use of chemical weapons and weapons of mass destruction by the Israeli regime and hegemonic powers especially the United States. General Jafari made the remarks in a message to a ceremony to mark the 27th anniversary of the fatal chemical attack on the Iranian city of Sardasht by the regime of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on June 28, 1987. Over 1,000 people were killed and more than 8,000 were permanently disabled due to the attack. The Iranian commander also stated that the chemical attack on Sardasht was not given due attention by world public opinion because of restrictions imposed on mainstream news media at that time. According to reports, the use of chemical weapons by Baghdad during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war on Iran (1980-1988) inflicted over 100,000 casualties on the Iranian side, with many others dying on a daily basis as a result of their injuries. Around 20,000 Iranian soldiers were killed instantly by nerve gas. Sardasht was the main target of Iraq’s chemical bombardments during the war. The city was attacked with mustard gas bombs twice. Many children gradually lost their vision after birth as a result of the chemical bombardment. A quarter of the population of that time is still suffering from severe illnesses. Iran has slammed Western countries for providing the former Iraqi regime with chemical arms in the 1980s. Meanwhile, in a message on Sunday, Director-General of the Organization for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Ahmet Uzumcu sympathized with victims of chemical attack in Sardasht. Uzumcu said 27 years ago, the peace-loving people of Sardasht were brutally attacked by chemical weapons. He also deeply sympathized with the people of the city who are still suffering from the consequences of the attack. Uzumcu further underlined the need for banning the use of chemical weapons throughout the globe. Minister visits chemical victims Health Minister Hassan Qazizadeh Hashemi, who was in Sardasht to participate in the marking ceremony, visited some of the chemical attack victims and was briefed on the difficulties in procuring medicines and providing treatment. Several officials accompanied the health minister during his visit, IRIB reported. Meanwhile, a member of parliament from the cities of Piranshahr and Sardasht said the Foreign Ministry should seriously follow up the dossier of chemical injured victims in international tribunal and community. Rasoul Khezri said unfortunately in spite of a lapse of 27 years from the bombardment, the issue has not been seriously followed up in international tribunals, yet. He reminded the Iranian people have been the victims of international terrorism and added that the residents of Sardasht expected the Foreign Ministry to dispatch documents of this criminal act to the International Court of Justice in The Hague