The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors will meet this week, starting today in Vienna, and Iran’s nuclear program will be on the agenda. The May 22ndIAEA report concluded that little has changed since previous assessments of the nuclear program – with Iran continuing to enrich nuclear fuel and Tehran and the Agency at loggerheads over what is necessary to show that all of Iran’s nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
Iran
Getting to Zero Timeline: 2012
December 13, 2012: P5+1 talks with Iran in Tehran
December 8, 2012: Marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty by former US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev.
Getting to Zero Timeline: 2013
January 16-17, 2013: IAEA Talks with Iran. Tehran, Iran
January 21 – March 28, 2013: First session of the Conference on Disarmament in 2013
February 12, 2013: Obama State of the Union Address, Vice President Joe Biden stated the speech will address “advancing a comprehensive nuclear agenda to strengthen the nonproliferation regime, reduce global stockpiles and secure nuclear materials.”
February 13, 2013: IAEA Talks with Iran. Tehran, Iran.
Iran at the 2013 NPT PrepCom: a short guide on statements and reports
On April 22nd, delegates from NPT member states gathered in Geneva at the 2nd Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting for the 2015 Nuclear Non-proliferation Review Conference. This PrepCom, spanning two weeks, was set to focus on a variety of nuclear issues, but ongoing international concern over Iran’s nuclear program meant many member states singled out Iran in their statements and reports, specifically narrowing in on issues such as non-compliance with NPT safeguards and the country’s opaque nuclear ambitions.
Iran earthquake: a catalyst for confidence building at Bushehr?
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.
Iran earthquake: a catalyst for confidence building at Bushehr?
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.
Backgrounder: The ‘P5’ Conferences: Past Meetings and Policy Considerations for Geneva 2013
This background briefing gives context, recent history, and key issues affecting the 'P5' meeting of the NPT nuclear weapon states in Geneva this week (April 18th-19th) and speculates as to what is likely to be on the agenda.