Nuclear Nonproliferation Noncompliance
Quiz of the day:
Q. Which country is planning to violate the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT)?
a. Iran
b. Iraq
c. USA
d. none of the above
A. USA. That’s right. The USA is planning a new program to upgrade its nuclear weapons. The RRW warheads (reliable replacement warhead) will be a new generation of nuclear warheads. Additionally, the USA and the UK conducted a nuclear weapons test recently in the Nevada desert.
Developing new nuclear weapons is in direction contradiction to Article 6 of the NPT, which calls for nuclear nations to pursue nuclear disarmament:
Article VI
Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes 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, and on a Treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control.
If you answered Iran, because of its plans to breed nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes, you are most likely incorrect. Peaceful nuclear development is allowed under the NPT:
Article IV
1. Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with articles I and II of this Treaty.
2. All the Parties to the Treaty undertake to facilitate, and have the right to participate in, the fullest possible exchange of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Parties to the Treaty in a position to do so shall also cooperate in contributing alone or together with other States or international organizations to the further development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the territories of non-nuclear-weapon States Party to the Treaty, with due consideration for the needs of the developing areas of the world.
Now, it may be true that Iran also intends to build nuclear weapons. But even if it is true, it is extremely difficult for the US to demand that Iran comply with the NPT when the US does not.