The current obstacle about Iran’s alleged attempt to develop Nuclear weapons is hinged on the (Nuclear) Non proliferation Treaty NPT.
In order to better understand the discussion it is therefore instrumental to have at least a cursory understanding of this treaty.
Of greatest relevance is the so-called Third Pillar, which allows member-states – inalienably – the peaceful utilisation of Nuclear energy, including Uranium enrichment.
The stance of USA is problematic for two reasons:
- The treaty calls for disarmament, and USA is not disarmed – yet.
- The nuclear weapon states (NWS) should not induce a non-NWS to acquire NW, and the threat of using NW against a non-NWS is such inducement. USA has recently spoken of the posibility of preemptively attacking Iran with NW.
The treaty itself is problematic because it has never delivered an ethical argument as to why the original 5 NWS are entitled to have NW while no one else can have them.
Food for thought: The 5 NWS are also the 5 permanent members of the UN security council.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT or NNPT) is an international treaty, opened for signature on July 1, 1968 to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. 188 sovereign states are parties to the treaty, however, two (India and Pakistan) out of seven confirmed nuclear powers (i.e., those that have openly tested nuclear weapons), and one possible nuclear power (Israel) have not ratified the treaty. Another self-proclaimed nuclear power (North Korea) has withdrawn. The treaty was proposed by Ireland and Finland was the first to sign. In New York City, on May 11, 1995, the parties to the treaty decided by consensus to extend the treaty indefinitely and without conditions.The treaty is often summarized as having three pillars:
- nonproliferation
- disarmament
- the right to peacefully use nuclear technology.
