On April 16th, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit southeast Iran causing tremors that could be felt in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and western Saudi Arabia. This is only a week after a worrying 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Kaki, a southern Iranian town located just 60 miles from Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power station.
The time for positive ideas on the Zone is NOW!
BASIC's Executive Director, Paul Ingram, reflects on the NPT and where we are on the establishment of the Middle East WMD-free zone:
The NPT PrepCom this week has been overshadowed by the near-universal frustration over the lack of progress on holding a conference on a Middle East zone free of WMD. State after state got up in plenary to express that frustration, many condemning the co-sponsors’ decision in late 2012 to postpone.
Iran Update No. 167
The E3+3, Iran, and the Almaty talks
Last week's talks were deemed by many commentators as a failure. Rather than responding directly to the E3+3’s (P5+1's) agenda around initial small confidence-building steps, the Iranian delegation appears to have looked for reassurances that the end-state would include lifting the sanctions and recognition of Iran’s right to enrich, and that the group of six was serious in recognizing objectives of the Iranian delegation.
Roundtable on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf: Istanbul, 25-26 March 2013
BASIC is hosting its second annual meeting on nuclear non-proliferation in the Gulf this coming Monday and Tuesday. There will be a number of experts and officials attending from the region.
BASIC’s Executive Director, Paul Ingram, says: “States around the Gulf face daunting security challenges, and it is crucial they communicate clearly and unambiguously their intention to seek strong international regimes that prevent nuclear proliferation and strengthen regional security. This can only happen through open and honest dialogue.”
Iran Update No. 166
- United States and Iran claim willingness to negotiate, but on what terms?
- E3+3 (P5+1) talks end with an agreement for future talks
- IAEA meets with Iran; new Agency report indicates Iran installing new centrifuges but curbing stockpiles of sensitive fissile material
- U.S. expands sanctions on Iran, but Israel urges for even tighter measures
- Concerns over the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline
- In advance of Obama's visit to Israel, report indicates Iran to deliver non-nuclear weapons pledge
- U.S. Director of Intelligence: Iran has not decided to build nuclear weapons
Conference on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf

BASIC hosted its second conference on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in the Gulf in Istanbul, Turkey on March 25-26, 2013.
Evidence submitted by CND
JANUARY 2013
Summary of evidence submitted by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND):
Roundtable on British policy towards NATO’s nuclear posture
BASIC hosted a private roundtable on the United Kingdom\’s approach to NATO\’s nuclear posture after Chicago 2012 and nuclear deployments in Europe. Post-Chicago Summit analyses seem to agree that whilst a clear consensus on the general thrust of NATO’s nuclear policy was achieved, it is unclear how long this will pertain.