Proliferation News 4/28/26
IN THIS ISSUE: Why politics, money, and construction capacity will limit any European turn toward nuclear power generation, As warheads proliferate, decades old nuclear weapons treaty must evolve, warns UN chief, U.S. appears cool on Iran proposal to end war and reopen Hormuz without a nuclear deal, More countries are turning to nuclear power 40 years after the Chernobyl disaster, NRC proposed rule aims for speedier microreactor licensing, What Trump Owes the World
Mark Hibbs and Miles A. Pomper | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Last week European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a nuclear energy summit meeting that Europe had made a strategic mistake by turning away from nuclear power generation. In coming years, she vowed, that will be reversed. The EU will take steps to favor more nuclear investment and technology development and simplify regulations. But these steps will hardly scratch the surface of what’s needed.
As warheads proliferate, decades old nuclear weapons treaty must evolve, warns UN chief
Conor Lennon | UN News
For the first time in decades, the number of nuclear warheads is on the rise. Nuclear testing is back on the table and global military spending jumped to $2.7 trillion in 2025. Addressing the General Assembly, António Guterres said the cornerstone of efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons has been eroding, with commitments unfulfilled and trust and credibility wearing thin. “We need to breathe life into the Treaty once more,” he declared.
U.S. appears cool on Iran proposal to end war and reopen Hormuz without a nuclear deal
Chantal Da Silva, Abigail Williams, Natasha Lebedeva, and Steve Kopack | NBC News
The United States showed little immediate enthusiasm for a new Iranian proposal that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz without resolving the impasse over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program. Iran's latest offer looked “better” than past pitches, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said late Monday, after it was discussed by President Donald Trump and his national security team. But there was little sign that Washington might be willing to abandon its naval blockade and accept the offer.
More countries are turning to nuclear power 40 years after the Chernobyl disaster
Vladimir Isachenkov | Associated Press
The 1986 Chernobyl disaster fueled global fears about nuclear power and slowed its development in Europe and elsewhere. Four decades later, however, there’s a revival around the world, a trend that has been given a big boost by war in the Middle East. Over 400 nuclear reactors are operational in 31 countries, while about 70 more are under construction. Nuclear power accounts for producing about 10% of the world’s electricity, equivalent to about a quarter of all sources of low-carbon power.
NRC proposed rule aims for speedier microreactor licensing
Pavan Acharya | E&E News
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rolled out a proposed rule Friday that aims to streamline licensing for microreactors, advanced technology that the NRC, White House and developers of artificial intelligence say could help meet surging power demand. In its proposal, the agency said the rulemaking would “establish a risk-informed and performance-based regulatory framework” for licensing small advanced reactors, as directed by Congress. The proposed rule could allow the agency to issue an operator license within six months to a year after accepting an application.
W.J. Hennigan | The New York Times
If President Trump has maintained any consistency in his Iran policy over the years, it’s his conviction that the theocratic regime in Tehran should never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon… It’s an admirable goal. Restricting Iran’s ability to sprint for the bomb and curtailing its enrichment of uranium for the foreseeable future would be good not only for the United States, but for the globe… It’s also something that Mr. Trump owes to the world.
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