Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordan Friday called on Middle East countries, including Israel, to join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and to subject all their nuclear facilities to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards.

This came in a speech made by Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission Khalid Toukan during the 61 regular session of the IAEA's General Conference which concluded today in Vienna, Austria.

Toukan, who led Jordan's delegation to the conference, said placing nuclear facilities under the IAEA's safeguards would achieve a nuke-free Middle East, which would contribute to realizing global peace and security.

"Jordan attaches great importance to the commission's safeguards, considering them an essential element of international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons", Toukan told the gathering.

He also reviewed key important achievements in Jordan's nuclear project's components which are; Jordan's nuclear power plant, Jordan Research and Training Reactor and the uranium exploration project.

On the sidelines of the conference, Toukan met a number of Arab and foreign officials, including the Saudi and Egyptian delegations and briefed them on developments in Jordan's nuclear program.

He also met with Yukiya Amano, IAEA director-general and discussed with him cooperation between the two sides. Amano expressed readiness to continue supporting Jordan's nuclear program.