Libya Calls for IAEA Oversight of All Nuclear Facilities in the Middle East.

New York, 18 October 2026 (Lana): Libya reiterated its strong commitment to establishing a zone free of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.

This was stated in a speech delivered by Abdullah Al-Atwi, Second Secretary at Libya’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, during the general debate of the First Committee at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The statement emphasized that the complete and final elimination of nuclear weapons remains the only effective guarantee for achieving comprehensive global security, calling on all states, particularly nuclear-weapon states, to fully and strictly comply with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and fulfill their disarmament commitments without conditions.

The statement also called for all nuclear capabilities and facilities in the region to be placed under the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) comprehensive safeguards system, stressing the importance of preserving outer space exclusively for peaceful purposes, establishing binding international rules to prevent its militarization, and regulating the military use of artificial intelligence technologies.

The statement recalled Libya’s historic decision to voluntarily and completely abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs and equipment. It also announced Libya’s candidacy for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2028–2029 term, under the slogan “Upholding Justice for Security and Peace.”

Through its candidacy, Libya seeks to prioritize peaceful solutions to conflicts and represent the concerns of its region, the African continent, and developing countries with transparency, impartiality, and responsibility.

=Lana=