IRAN

Amanda Roraback's

World in a Nutshell


IRAN HOME PAGE Articles Can the West destroy Iran's nuclear capabilities? Iran's Unemployment Iran's Dress Codes Women's Rights Sanctions Resolution 1696 Resolution 1737 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) (new 03/27/07) Notes from Iran ("What did Ahmadinejad say" and other quotes from Iran) Is the US planning to go to war with Iran? Iraq Study Group and Iran ISOG (Iran Syria Operations Group) If Iran attacked the West Jews in Iran Resolution 1737 Iran's Government Iran's Military Op-Ed Iran better served by peace in Iraq Documents Charter of Human Rts. Non-Proliferation Treaty Analysis of word "Aryan" Letter from Ahmadinejad to George Bush	NPT This page was last updated on 09/06/2007	Iran in a Nutshell 80 pages $7.95
	TERMS NPT -- "Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty." An international treaty designed to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. NWS -- Nuclear weapons states. Only 5 of 188 states who have signed the NPT possess nuclear weapons: China, France, Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom. NNWS -- Non-nuclear weapons states. IAEA -- International Atomic Energy Agency. The United Nations agency that monitors and promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while hindering the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Additional Protocol -- A voluntary measure allowing IAEA inspectors greater liberties to check for illicit activity. TERMS EXPLAINED NPT Created in 1968, the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty was developed in order to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Of the 188 signatories to the treaty, five possess nuclear weapons (called the "nuclear weapon states"). The rest agreed not to acquire nuclear weapons. Among the provisions of the NPT: Non-nuclear weapon states agree never to acquire or manufacture nuclear weapons. Non-nuclear weapon states agree to allow inspections by the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) to ensure that they are not in violation of the NPT. Non-nuclear weapon states are permitted to develop non-weapons grade nuclear power plants for energy. The five nuclear weapons states agree not to help the non-nuclear weapon states acquire nuclear weapons. The nuclear weapon states also promise not to use their nuclear weapons against non-nuclear nations unless nuclear weapons are used against them or if the belligerent non-nuclear state has allied with a state that has nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapon states are encouraged to reduce their stockpiles of nuclear weapons and begin disarmament. *Controversies* Uranium enrichment The NPT allows non-nuclear states to develop peaceful nuclear power plants. This provision does not forbid states from developing or buying enriched or reprocessed uranium -- which can be used to enhance peaceful nuclear power capabilities or to create nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons storage The United States continues to store nuclear weapons in other NATO states that could be deployed in the case of a nuclear war. Critics say that the US is violating the terms of the NPT by supplying non-nuclear states with nuclear weapons. The U.S. argues that since the weapons are under U.S. control, the storage is not in violation of the NPT terms. Right to pull out of the treaty Article X of the NPT allows members to drop out of the NPT without penalty. North Korea took advantage of this clause by withdrawing from the NPT in January 2003. In October 2006 North Korea tested a nuclear device. Since there are no consequences to withdrawal, states that are on the verge of developing nuclear weapons have little incentive to remain members of the NPT. Non-membership India and Pakistan, both nuclear weapon states, never joined the NPT and are therefore not subject to IAEA inspections. Israel, strongly believed to be in possession of nuclear weapons, also does not belong to the NPT. ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL After it was discovered that Iraq and North Korea were violating the rules of the NPT, the agency decided to employ stronger safeguard measures to prevent other NPT states from following suit. In 1993, the IAEA implemented the Additional Protocol that would better constrain the ability of NPT members to develop nuclear weapons. Among other things, the Additional Protocol expanded the IAEA's ability to check for clandestine nuclear facilities by allowing inspectors to enter facilities on short notice and use environmental samples to detect illicit activity among other methods.

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