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The IAEA's expected inability to move forward on the nuclear programs of Iran, Syria, and Israel and the goal of a nuclear-free Middle East demonstrates the dysfunctional relationship between advanced, largely Western, nuclear countries and the developing and non-aligned states that constitute the majority of the IAEA's membership.
International tension over Iran’s nuclear ambitions has turned the nuclear program into a major domestic political issue and has caused conflict between the regime and conservatives as well as the opposition.
U.S. nuclear strategy would have to change in order to enable deep reductions in nuclear weapon numbers and U.S. allies have a role in facilitating such a change.
The United States has neither the intention nor need to renew nuclear testing, yet its failure to ratify the CTBT undermines both the credibility of U.S. leadership and the ability of the United States to improve the detection and deterrence of testing by others.
Resolving ambivalence over securing a world without nuclear weapons requires cooperative action of both the old and new powers, North and South, East and West.
Chinese plans to flout global rules on nuclear trade by building two reactors in Pakistan are emblematic of Beijing's growing nuclear assertiveness and threatens to undermine the nonproliferation regime.
Exempting Argentina and Brazil on new enrichment and reprocessing guidelines in the 46-member Nuclear Suppliers Group undermines the separate but important goal of establishing the IAEA Additional Protocol as the global standard on nonproliferation verification.
China’s plans to sell new nuclear reactors to Pakistan are fundamentally different from the U.S.-India nuclear deal. Determined opposition from the United States can convince Beijing to reconsider.
With the cooperation of the United States and other advanced nuclear countries, Saudi Arabia's budding nuclear energy program would directly challenge Iran's aspirations for regional leadership in nuclear power.
The results of the 2010 NPT Review Conference were notable. Now, NPT parties must determine how best to build on their incremental success and overcome obstacles, some of which already are apparent.