The IAEA reports a small decrease in Iran’s 60 percent uranium stockpile, but no progress on the safeguards investigation. In the meantime, the annual U.S. Worldwide Threat Assessment, released after a Congressional hearing March 11, assesses that Iran is not engaged in weaponization activities.
The CANWFZ is designed to reinforce the global nuclear nonproliferation system and safeguard the security of five key central Asian states that were once part of the Soviet Union and that now lie in the shadows of nuclear-armed Russia and China.
With less than two years to go before the expiration of the last remaining treaty limiting the world's two largest arsenals, Russian leaders continue to reject U.S. offers to discuss a new nuclear arms control framework.
International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi called for diplomacy with Tehran after the agency reported that Iran increased its production of uranium enriched to near weapons grade. Grossi also criticized Iran for restricting cooperation with the agency.
Despite some gloomy developments, there is reason for optimism that multilateral arms control has a brighter future.
The tenuous relationship between North and South Korea deteriorated further after Pyongyang’s illegal launch of a satellite in November.
States-parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons challenged the deterrence rationale for
nuclear weapons in an effort to inject new momentum into their campaign to rid the world of these armaments.
There are growing concerns about Iran's continued enrichment and new nuclear facilities as well as possible missile sales to Russia.
The United States and its NATO allies announced their plans following Russia’s decision earlier this year to withdraw from the pact.