Paris, 3 January 2022 (dpa/MIA) - The five permanent members of the UN Security Council said on Monday that they aim to continue their joint efforts to halt the proliferation of nuclear weapons. "We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," the statement from the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France, says. "We believe strongly that the further spread of such weapons must be prevented." The nations, all of which hold the power of veto in Security Council deliberations, released their statement a day ahead of a conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) that went into force in 1970. The statement goes on to say that the five remain committed to their NPT obligations, including the obligation "to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament." The statement was issued as talks resumed in Vienna aimed at reviving the Iran nuclear deal which seeks to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.