The 16th Nonaligned Movement (NAM) Summit opened in Tehran on Thursday as the international community pressures Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.

Leaders from roughly 30 countries, including Egypt, and high-level officials from around 80 nations are attending the summit.

In a keynote speech, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said his country is committed to the idea of a “Middle East free of nuclear weapons.” He was quick to add, however, that that does not mean Iran will forgo its right to the peaceful use of nuclear power and production of nuclear fuel.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is attending the gathering despite objections from the U.S. and Israel, said in a speech that Iran must take necessary steps to gain the trust of the international community about pursuing nuclear activities for peaceful purposes only.