Non-proliferation treaty and Iran

Iran is not the only proliferator.Photo: AFPA.K.N. Ahmed

FOR the last few years Iran has been chastised by the western powers, particularly US, for trying to make nuclear bombs despite the strong denial of that country that it is not doing so and that it is trying to develop nuclear power for meeting its growing need of electricity. This controversy raises many questions, including the following:

-Is it not true that the treaty empowers all countries to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and, according to expert opinion, Iran's efforts to enrich uranium have not yet reached the level of producing bombs?

-Is it not true that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is inherently discriminating since it divided the world into nuclear "haves" and "have-nots," and the logic of deciding who was legally allowed to keep nuclear weapons was based on an arbitrary cut-off date (January 1967) by which a country should have tested a nuclear device?

-Is it not true that no action was taken against India when it did not sign the NPT and later on tested nuclear bombs?

-Is it not true that sanctions were imposed on Pakistan when it tested nuclear bombs despite being a signatory of NPT, and is it not true that the sanction was unilaterally lifted by US after 9/11 in order to secure active support of that country in its "War on Terror?"

-Is it not true that contrary to NPT agreement 5 major nuclear powers (particularly US and Russia) not only modernised their nuclear arsenals but also increased their total stock of such weapons?

-Is it not true that the western powers including US looked the other way when Israel was engaged in developing nuclear bombs? Israel began its nuclear programme in early 1958 when it constructed the core of its nuclear infrastructure and in 1967 it completed the development stage of its first nuclear weapons. By 1970 Israel's status as a nuclear weapon state became an accepted fact. Is it not true that not a single nuclear power came out publicly against Israel's acquisition of nuclear weapons? Is it not public knowledge that Israel now possesses 400 nuclear bombs and that the major western powers are pretending ignorance of this fact to avoid any action on their part?

-Is it not true that during the period of the cold war both the USA and Soviet Union built up their stocks of nuclear weapons to the extent that they ran short of their targets where they could be dropped if need be?

-Is it not true that President Reagan, towards the end of his tenure, publicly stated: "I call upon the scientific community of our country, those who gave us nuclear weapons to turn their talents now to the cause of mankind and world peace to give us means of rendering the nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete?" Is it not true that in recent years senior statesmen of US, like Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, Senator Lugar, ex-Senator Sam Nunn, have all come out with public statements demanding destruction of the stocks of nuclear weapons all over the world.

In short, the world has essentially lost its trust and confidence in the five nuclear weapons states. Their silence over Israel's acquisition of nuclear bombs created a loophole in the non-proliferation regime, through which others could walk in. Far more dangerously, it delegitimised the NPT in the eyes of the Muslim world. NPT not having legal wings to fly with, has to be perceived as fair in order to survive in perpetuity. There is no doubt that NPT would die if the Islamic World start widely believing that it was illegitimate. Even if Iran is reined in, other countries will go for nuclear weapons in the name of self-protection. Already, some countries voice their protests in this direction when the issue is debated in the IAEA.

Contrary to what major western powers want the rest of the world to believe, the biggest source of nuclear proliferation are the nuclear weapons states themselves, specially the US and Russia, which still stock and continue to develop thousands of nuclear weapons. Mohammed El-Baradei, the chief of IAEA, was right when he said: "The very existence of nuclear weapons give rise to the pursuit of them." They are seen as sources of global influence and are valued for their perceived deterrent effect. And as long as some countries possess them (or are protected by them in alliance) and others do not, this asymmetry will breed chronic global insecurity.

President Obama has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. The entire world, including US, will now anxiously look forward to see how he bends his efforts and energy towards world peace. One litmus test of his leadership in that direction will be whether he commits himself totally to non-proliferation by destroying the stocks of nuclear weapons, particularly in US and Russia. One giant step in that direction should be the first step towards world peace and prosperity. If he fails in this effort a whispering campaign will emerge in many countries saying: "Physician, heal thyself."

A.K.N. Ahmed is a former Governor of Bangladesh Bank.