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Iran's representatives proposed a specialized AI ethics department within the World AI Cooperation Organization at its first summit in Beijing. Tehran Times reported that the proposal would place AI ethics among the organization's key focus areas and promote responsible development and use of the technology, according to the Iranian delegation's remarks. Emadoddin Fatemizadeh, an official with the vice-presidency for science and knowledge-based economy, said AI, like other advanced technologies, can have dual use, so ethics and deployment must be balanced, and that the proposal was well received by some member states. He said China has strong technical capabilities while Iran offers specialized human resources and theoretical knowledge. Foreign ministry official Mohammad Reza Ghaebi called for fair, affordable access to AI for all countries and warned against militarized AI. Tehran Times reported that Ghaebi said US and Israeli use of AI in the war against Iran led to the deaths of 168 students at a school in Minab, Hormozgan province. Iran agreed to join the organization in August, and its headquarters is planned for Shanghai.