Latest news with #TreatyontheNon-ProliferationofNuclearWeapons
Egypt Today
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Egypt Today
Egypt's FM phone calls Iranian counterpart, Witkoff to de-escalate military conflict in the region
CAIRO – 20 June 2025: In a bid to contain the military escalation between Israel and Iran, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty made two phone calls with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, said the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in a statement on Friday. Minister Abdelatty reiterated the need to exert all efforts to de-escalate and achieve a ceasefire, and to utilize the available diplomatic channels to contain the escalating situation and neutralize the risk of a comprehensive escalation of the situation in the Middle East. Abdelatty stressed the need to work to prevent the expansion of the conflict and the region from sliding into total chaos, the repercussions of which would not be immune. He reiterated the importance of exhausting all diplomatic and political channels to reach a sustainable agreement on the Iranian nuclear program. Since the outbreak of the war between Iran and Israel on June 13, Egypt has exerted tremendous diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict in which hundreds of people were killed and thousands were injured. The war started when Israel, which has nuclear weapon and not a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), launched missile and drones towards Tehran and killed hundreds of nuclear scientists, military leaders and civilians to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Israeli missiles and drones have targeted several nuclear facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, Arak and Fordow, causing a minor level of radiation leakage as it was reported by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Israel, which is totally backed by the US, seeks to be the only country in the region that has nuclear weapons. In retaliation, Iran fired hundreds hypersonic missiles and drones on Israel, causing severe damage to buildings besides the Weizmann Institute of Science, Haifa refinery, and the Gav-Yam Negev Advanced Technologies Park. Israel, which continues its genocidal war on Gaza despite its war with Iran, attempts to draw the US in its conflict with Iran to also topple the Iranian Islamic regime, led by the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. However, Tehran, along with its regional allies in the Middle East in Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, threatened if the US entered the war, the US interests in the Middle East will be targeted.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
New clear danger
Hitting working nuclear facilities, as Israel is doing & US may do, is reckless, given the chance of radiation leak Aug will mark 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki resulted in over 2.2L deaths. The aftermath affected victor, vanquished and the rest, and almost all nations agreed that nukes must not spread. The 'Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons', or NPT, resulted from this consensus in 1970. Iran was among its original signatories, Israel was not. And the pact has held up well, with only nine nuclear-armed states so far. All significant nuclear events since Nagasaki – Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima – have been accidents in times of peace. And each one has led to enhanced safeguards. But an old recklessness is creeping back. Soon after it invaded Ukraine in Feb 2022, Russia shelled and seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – Europe's largest. Luckily, there was no radiation leak. And last Friday, Israel bombed three of Iran's major nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow. Now it has bombed Iran's Arak nuclear reactor, while the world's attention is riveted on Trump's plan to pulverise Fordow with 'bunker buster' bombs. These are extremely irresponsible and dangerous moves, as damage to an operational nuclear site can result in another Chernobyl. One thought this cavalier attitude had become taboo a long time ago. But it's like 1981 again when Israel destroyed Iraq's brand-new, French-made Osirak reactor at the Tuwaitha complex on the same pretext of self-preservation that it's been brandishing against Iran for decades. But Osirak was still a month away from being fuelled up. The Israelis themselves admitted they couldn't have touched it afterwards for fear of blanketing Baghdad with radiation. They exercised care in 2007 also, when they destroyed Syria's under-construction al-Kibar facility. US was so upset with Israel's 1981 raid it had termed it a 'source of utmost concern'. Now, Putin, Bibi and Trump have no qualms at all about attacking functioning reactors. The last time US did something more irresponsible was during the 1991 Gulf War when it destroyed two operational reactors at Tuwaitha. What will throwing caution to the wind now, after 34 years, achieve? Will it weaken Iran's resolve to make a bomb? Unlikely. In fact, Iran has already indicated its intent to exit NPT. If it does, it will be a setback for the whole non-proliferation consensus. Many other countries that have been watching these developments with alarm will think it prudent to get their own nuclear shield. We're 89 seconds from midnight on the 'Doomsday Clock'. A nuclearised world will only push us closer. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran Israel Conflict: Does Israel have a nuclear arsenal? All you may want to know
Israel's recent strikes on Iran have renewed international focus on its own nuclear capabilities. While Iran's nuclear ambitions are monitored and widely debated, Israel maintains a long-standing policy of ambiguity regarding its nuclear arsenal. This development has raised concerns among global analysts and non-proliferation experts. Israel Launches Strikes Israel launched attacks on Iran on Friday. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. He stated that Israel had to act because a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a threat to the country. According to US Senator Mark Warner, who leads the Senate Intelligence Committee, the American view on Iran's nuclear program has not changed since March. The US intelligence community believes Iran has enriched uranium but has not decided to build a bomb. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: 1 simple trick to get all TV channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Also Read: The Lincoln Lawyer Season 4: When will it release? Here's what to expect in upcoming season and all details about cast and production team Israel's Nuclear Policy Israel has never confirmed having nuclear weapons. Experts refer to this as a policy of 'opacity.' Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute now calls it 'implausible deniability.' Live Events Israel is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but has not signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Countries like India, Pakistan, North Korea, and South Sudan are also non-signatories. To join the treaty, Israel would need to give up any nuclear weapons. The NPT recognizes only five nuclear states: the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France. Historical Background Groups like the Federation of American Scientists estimate that Israel has about 90 nuclear warheads. Due to Israel's secrecy, it is difficult to confirm this number. Reports suggest that Israel began developing nuclear weapons after its founding in 1948. A 1969 US government memo revealed Israel agreed not to be the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the region, but the meaning remains unclear. Also Read: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Rivals Event: How to earn rewards? See start date, time, rewards and when is next scheduled event Whistleblower's Disclosures and Policy Impacts Mordechai Vanunu , a former technician, exposed details about Israel's Dimona nuclear site in the Negev Desert. He was later jailed for treason. He claimed his actions were meant to protect Israel from future conflict. Groups monitoring nuclear arms argue that Israel's lack of transparency makes it harder to promote peaceful nuclear use in the Middle East. FAQs Why does Israel not confirm its nuclear weapons program? Israel follows a long-standing policy of ambiguity. This aims to maintain strategic advantage while avoiding direct international obligations or conflicts regarding nuclear disarmament. How might Israel's actions affect Iran's nuclear plans? Experts say Israel's strikes may push Iran to expand its nuclear efforts for defense, which could increase regional risks and fuel a nuclear arms race.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
What happens if Iran chooses to leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty?
Amid the heightened military tensions between Iran and Israel, the Islamic Republic said on Monday (June 16) that its Parliament was preparing a Bill that could result in it leaving the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). The Israeli attack on Iran began on June 13 after Tel Aviv claimed that Iran was close to enriching weapons-grade uranium — which would effectively allow the Islamic Republic to build a nuclear weapon and pose, as per Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a 'threat to Israel's very survival'. Israel struck major nuclear facilities in Natanz and other Iranian cities in Iran. Iran has denied the charges, saying it only plans to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes and not to develop weapons. It also vowed retaliation and launched ballistic missiles towards Iran. While at least 24 people have died in Israel, the death toll in Iran has crossed 600. In this context, what is the NPT, and what happens if Iran leaves it? Signed in 1968 and entered into force in 1970, the international treaty is aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and technology, and promoting cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, as well as disarmament. Soon after World War 2 (1939-45) which ended with the United States dropping atomic bombs on Japan, world powers raced to develop their own nuclear weapons. Simultaneously, efforts were also made to restrict the proliferation of nuclear technology. In 1953, the US government launched the Atoms for Peace initiative under President Dwight D Eisenhower, laying the groundwork for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Eisenhower said in a speech: 'The United States would seek more than the mere reduction or elimination of atomic materials for military purposes. It is not enough to take this weapon out of the hands of the soldiers. It must be put into the hands of those who will know how to strip its military casing and adapt it to the arts of peace'. International relations professor Joseph Nye wrote in an article in 1981 that the initiative's biggest contribution was a safeguards system, where 'nonweapons countries agree to file… regular detailed reports on nuclear civilian activities, and agree to allow international inspectors to visit their nuclear facilities to verify the reports and to ensure that there has been no diversion of materials from civilian to military purposes.' 'The safeguards system is central to the basic bargain of the international regime in which other countries are assisted in their peaceful nuclear energy needs in return for their accepting the intrusion of safeguards and inspection,' he wrote. IAEA personnel now carry out such inspections. The treaty defines a nuclear state as one 'which has manufactured and exploded a nuclear weapon or other nuclear explosive device prior to 1 January 1967.' These are the US, the UK, France, the Soviet Union (later Russia) and China. Today, 191 states have joined the treaty. India carried out its first nuclear tests in 1974 but has not signed it, and instead reiterated the principle of universality in preventing nuclear proliferation. Given the treaty's exceptions for the permanent five members of the UN Security Council, and the arbitrary date chosen as the cut-off point to accommodate the P5 members, it has been criticised as discriminatory. Pakistan is also not a signatory. Israel, which is reported to possess nuclear weapons but has never confirmed it officially, has not signed it. North Korea signed it in 1985 but announced its withdrawal in 2003 after it was found to have built an enrichment program. It also expelled IAEA inspectors. One of the treaty's 11 articles mentions the procedure for leaving it. Article 10 speaks of withdrawal: 'Each Party shall in exercising its national sovereignty have the right to withdraw from the Treaty if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this Treaty, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country.' A notice of withdrawal must be given to other parties and the UNSC three months in advance, and 'such notice shall include a statement of the extraordinary events it regards as having jeopardized its supreme interests.' Iran has been a signatory since 1970 – nine years before the Islamic Revolution saw the formation of a theocratic state. However, in its first such decision in almost 20 years, the IAEA's 35-nation Board of Governors (which includes the P5, India, Bangladesh, Japan and Ukraine) recently said that Iran breached its non-proliferation obligations. The board's resolution mentioned its 'many failures to uphold its obligations since 2019 to provide the Agency with full and timely cooperation regarding undeclared nuclear material and activities at multiple undeclared locations in Iran'. In response, Iran said it always adhered to its safeguards obligations. Exiting the treaty raises two major concerns: first, it will keep Iran out of the IAEA's purview and regular inspections, and second, it could set a precedent for other states to leave the global framework, weakening cooperation on a crucial subject. According to IAEA data compiled by Bloomberg, IAEA inspectors averaged 1.4 nuclear-site visits a day last year in Iran. Such access would end if Iran chooses to withdraw. However, remaining in the NPT does not necessarily signal an intention to build nuclear weapons, because signatories (like North Korea) have also developed weapons in the past. In this case, Iranian officials have repeatedly denied plans to do so, but the changing dynamics in the Middle East mean there are few guarantees. Some scholars, such as Nye, have said the treaty nonetheless served a purpose by slowing the pace of proliferation. 'Realistically, an international regime does not need perfect adherence to have a significant constraining effect, any more than deviant behavior means the irrelevance of domestic legal regimes. Nevertheless, there is a tipping point beyond which violations lead to a breakdown of normative constraints,' he wrote. Rishika Singh is a Senior sub-editor at the Explained Desk of The Indian Express. She enjoys writing on issues related to international relations, and in particular, likes to follow analyses of news from China. Additionally, she writes on developments related to politics and culture in India. ... Read More
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Putin offers to mediate Iran-Israel crisis
Shafaq News/ Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to mediate an end to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, proposing a settlement that safeguards Tehran's right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program. Speaking to international news agency journalists on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin called the situation 'delicate,' but said a resolution was possible. 'In my opinion, a solution can be found,' he noted. Putin confirmed that Russia had shared its proposals with Iran, Israel, and the United States. 'We are not imposing anything on anyone, we are simply talking about how we see a possible way out of the situation. But the decision, of course, is up to the political leadership of all these countries, primarily Iran and Israel,' he said. In remarks avoiding speculation, Putin declined to comment on suggestions that Israel or the US could attempt to assassinate Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 'I don't even want to discuss such a possibility,' he said. He also revealed that despite Israel's airstrikes, Iran's nuclear program remains intact. 'These underground factories, they exist, nothing has happened to them,' adding that over 200 Russian employees at the Russian-built Bushehr nuclear plant remain safe under an agreement with Israel. Putin's remarks follow his earlier offer to US President Donald Trump to mediate the crisis. However, Trump reportedly rejected the proposal, telling Putin, 'Do me a favor, mediate your own. Let's mediate Russia first, okay?,' referring to the war in Ukraine. While Putin has positioned Russia as a potential broker, the US has voiced increasing frustration. Russian officials say the Middle East risks tipping into chaos if the US joins Israel militarily. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Wednesday that direct American involvement would 'radically destabilize' the region. Russia, which signed a strategic partnership with Iran earlier this year but has not included a mutual defense clause, has repeatedly backed Tehran's right to a peaceful nuclear program under the UN's Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
