Iran has also officially ratified the international Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) banning the development, production, stockpiling and usage of chemical weapons, but said it will withdraw from the convention if members are discriminated.

Iran announced that it reserves the right to pull out from the treaty if its members are treated unequally in implementing its stipulations or if there are disclosures of secret information contrary to the treaty's regulations or if any limitations, which are not mentioned in the treaty, are imposed.

Head of Iranian mission to UN Majid Takht Ravanchi Monday deposited the instruments of ratification of the treaty to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, IRNA said.

Along with the instruments of ratification, Iran also enclosed a seven-article announcement spelling out its basic stand on the treaty banning chemical weapons.The note recalled that in accordance with the principles of Islamic ideology, Iran considers chemical weapons as inhuman and from the very beginning it has continued to pioneer international efforts for the destruction of these weapons as well as prevent its production.Iran also called for liquidation of the regimes enjoying monopoly in this field, as well as a check on exports including free trading of chemical materials.

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