NPT 101: Clash between nuclear haves and have-nots
| Istanbul, Turkey
The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) came into force 40 years ago to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. From May 3-28, the NPT鈥檚 signatories are gathering in New York to review the treaty. The exercise, which takes place every five years, will pit Iran against Western powers suspicious of Tehran鈥檚 nuclear ambitions.
The clash is emblematic of a critical one at the heart of the NPT: nuclear 鈥渉aves鈥� vs. 鈥渉ave-nots鈥� 鈥� and fulfillment of their obligations to each other.
With 189 members, the NPT is the most universally accepted arms control agreement. The core bargain is that the five recognized nuclear states 鈥� the US, Russia, China, France, and Britain 鈥� promise to completely disarm, while all non-nuclear states forever forgo nuclear weapons.
In return, the treaty gives non-nuclear states an 鈥渋nalienable right鈥� to pursue peaceful nuclear energy 鈥� which Iran claims to be its sole aim 鈥� and to benefit from the 鈥渇ullest possible exchange鈥� of nuclear technology.
The US and Russia control some 95 percent of the world鈥檚 estimated 23,000 nuclear warheads, according to a tabulation of sources by the Arms Control Association in Washington. Critics say the two countries have not cut back quickly or deeply enough. President Obama has recently negotiated a New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) with Russia, and says the US is committed to a nuclear-free world.
But Iran says the NPT has 鈥渇ailed鈥� to stop proliferation, and vows 鈥渇undamental reforms鈥� to address imbalances of the non-proliferation treaty.
鈥淯nder the pretext of prevention of nuclear weapons proliferation, they impose heavy pressures on independent countries,鈥� said Iran鈥檚 President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the only head of state attending, before leaving Tehran on Sunday. 鈥淭he atomic bomb has become a tool for bullying, domination, and expansionism.鈥�
Iran鈥檚 fight for nuclear 鈥渞ights鈥� under all circumstances resonates with the 118-members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and countries such as Brazil and Argentina, and Libya and South Africa, which gave up weapons efforts in years past.
A NAM 鈥渨orking paper鈥� for the conference rejects 鈥渁ny restriction or limitation on the transfer of nuclear equipment, material and technology鈥� to fellow NPT members.
NPT 101:
Part 1: How relevant is the cold war treaty in an age of terrorism?
Part 2: Which countries have nuclear weapons?
Part 3: Why Iran sees nuclear 'hypocrisy
Part 4: Clash between nuclear haves and have-nots
