Russia, US, Egypt, Others Urge Nuke-Free Mideast Russian, U.S., Egyptian and Arab League diplomats are pushing for a nuclear weapons-free Middle East, a goal they admit will be tough to reach. On the sidelines Thursday of nuclear talks in Geneva, the diplomats debated a plan proposed by Moscow think-tank PIR Center. It includes steps such as Mideast nations committing not to attack one other, allowing the U.N. nuclear agency to safeguard nuclear facilities, and creating a new regional body for nuclear cooperation. U.S. diplomat Thomas Countryman called the idea ambitious. But he and the Arab League's Wael Al-Assad cited Iran's disputed nuclear program - which Tehran insists is peaceful - as a major stumbling block. Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov also said any accord depends on Israel, which is believed to have atomic weapons but hasn't confirmed that.