Former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali: Iran Has the Right to Nuclear Weapons

In a recent TV interview, former U.N. secretary-general Boutros Boutros-Ghali said that he believed that Iran, along with Saudi Arabia and Egypt, had the right to nuclear weapons.

Following are excerpts from the interview, which aired on the Egyptian Al-Kahera Wal-Nas TV on December 12, 2014.

Interviewer: Turkey aspires to take control of the Middle East and Africa, doesn't it?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: Maybe, but is it capable of doing so?

Interviewer: Neither Turkey nor Iran?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: We exaggerate the roles played by both these countries.

Interviewer: Even if Iran obtains nuclear weapons?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: Israel has nuclear weapons. How come nobody talks about it? Pakistan and India have nuclear weapons. How come nobody talks about them? Why do we tell Iran that it cannot have nuclear weapons?

Interviewer: Does Iran have this right?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: Of course. I believe so.

Interviewer: And so does Saudi Arabia?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: Of course, and Egypt too.

Interviewer: Why does the world exert pressure to prevent major regional countries from obtaining nuclear weapons?

Boutros Boutros-Ghali: Israel plays a role in this.

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