The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
Ahmadinejad on the NPT
By
Reza Aslan Daily Beast, May 3, 2010
Edited by Andy Ross
Iran President Ahmadinejad at the New York conference on the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty:
"Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
have not come true, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has
not been successful in discharging its mandate."
"The production,
stockpiling, and qualitative improvement of nuclear armaments in a given
country have served as the best justification for the others to develop
their own arsenals, a trend that has sustained over the past forty years in
violation of the commitments set forth in the NPT."
"No effective
mechanism has been devised to address the actual threat of nuclear weapons,
which must be in fact the most important mission of the IAEA."
Ahmadinejad called for the "immediate and unconditional implementation of
the resolution adopted by 1995 Review Conference on the establishment of a
nuclear free zone in the Middle East."
Status of World Nuclear Forces
Federation of American Scientists,
May 3, 2010
Edited by Andy Ross
Country |
Operational* |
Total Inventory* |
Russia** |
4,650 |
12,000 |
United States*** |
2,468 |
9,600 |
France |
300 |
300 |
China |
180 |
240 |
United Kingdom |
<160 |
185 |
Israel |
|
80 |
Pakistan |
|
70-90 |
India |
|
60-80 |
North Korea |
|
<10 |
Total* |
7,700 |
22,500 |
* Numbers are
rounded estimates.
** Russia's estimated total inventory of non-strategic
warheads is 5,390. An estimated 1,000 retired Russian warheads are dismantled per
year.
*** An additional 2,500 U.S. warheads are non-operational spares in storage. In
addition to the declared 5,113 U.S. warheads, 4,500 await dismantling.
AR President Ahmadinejad has an argument
that deserves to be addressed. President Obama has made a useful start by
declaring exact numbers. I hope Obama keeps working to make the NPT realistic
and binding.


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