Iran blasts ‘utter hypocrisy’ of UK boosting its nuclear arsenal

Iran condemns as “utter hypocrisy” Britain’s announcement that it intends to expand its nuclear arsenal even as it accuses other nations, notably the Islamic Republic, of violating non-proliferation efforts.

Britain published a review of foreign and defense policy yesterday that unveiled plans to bolster its arsenal from 180 warheads to 260 by the end of the decade, reversing a previous commitment to reduce its stockpile.

The announcement came after Britain had repeatedly criticized Iran for resuming parts of its civil nuclear program which it had given up under the 2015 nuclear deal.

“In utter hypocrisy, (British Prime Minister) @BorisJohnson is ‘concerned about Iran developing a viable nuclear weapon,'” Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif complained in a tweet. “On the very same day he announces his country will increase its stockpile of nukes.”

In utter hypocrisy, @BorisJohnson is “concerned about Iran developing a viable nuclear weapon”. On the very same day he announces his country will increase its stockpile of nukes.

Unlike the UK and allies, Iran believes nukes and all WMDs are barbaric & must be eradicated.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) March 16, 2021

“Unlike the UK and allies, Iran believes nukes and all WMDs (weapons of mass destruction) are barbaric & must be eradicated.”