A sharp verbal confrontation erupted between the United States and Iran at the United Nations Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York after Iran was nominated as one of the conference’s vice presidents. The 11th review session of the treaty, which came into force in 1970, appointed 34 vice presidents from various country groups, with Iran nominated by the Non-Aligned Movement and other states, according to conference chair Do Hung Viet of Vietnam.

US Assistant Secretary for Arms Control Christopher Ayo called the decision a blow to the NPT’s credibility, accusing Iran of long ignoring its commitments and failing to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog. Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Reza Najafi, rejected the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, arguing that the US, as the only country to have used nuclear weapons, lacked moral authority to judge others.

The dispute comes amid heightened tensions involving Iran, the US, and Israel. Iran has proposed suspending nuclear discussions until regional conflicts ease, while Washington reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s stance that Iran must never obtain nuclear weapons.