Iran has warned of the catastrophic consequences of the United States’ continued expansion and modernization of its nuclear arsenal, saying Washington’s nuclear policies threaten all humanity decades after it became the only country to use atomic weapons in warfare.

Iran’s permanent mission in Vienna issued a statement to mark the anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, describing the attacks as a lasting reminder of the devastating human consequences of nuclear weapons.

“Preventing future tragedies such as the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki requires genuine commitment to nuclear disarmament and the establishment of a world free from weapons of mass destruction,” the mission said.

It emphasized that the mass deaths, widespread destruction and deadly radiation caused by the US bombings, whose effects were felt even by generations born afterward, underscore the urgent need to eliminate all nuclear weapons.