Arms Control Association

Arms Control Association

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Defense policy focused on arms control/nonproliferation.

Conference Chief Seeks to Rebuild NPT Credibility:  An Interview with Ambassador Do Hung Viet of Vietnam, President of the...
NewsMar 24, 2026

Conference Chief Seeks to Rebuild NPT Credibility: An Interview with Ambassador Do Hung Viet of Vietnam, President of the...

Vietnam’s UN ambassador Do Hung Viet will preside over the 2026 Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York from April 27 to May 22. He aims to rebuild the treaty’s credibility by fostering inclusive dialogue, improving the conference’s procedural transparency, and presenting an...

By Arms Control Association
Strikes May Set Iran Back but Likely Won't End Nuclear Program, UN Watchdog Chief Warns
NewsMar 19, 2026

Strikes May Set Iran Back but Likely Won't End Nuclear Program, UN Watchdog Chief Warns

U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi warned that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes have not dismantled Iran’s core nuclear capabilities. He said the enriched uranium stockpile remains largely where it was, primarily at the Isfahan complex and in smaller quantities at...

By Arms Control Association
Virtual Briefing: Multilateral Arms Control After New START: Involving China and Other Nuclear-Armed States
NewsMar 16, 2026

Virtual Briefing: Multilateral Arms Control After New START: Involving China and Other Nuclear-Armed States

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia expired on February 5, opening the door for the two powers to increase deployed strategic nuclear weapons for the first time in 35 years. President Trump rejected President Putin’s proposal to extend...

By Arms Control Association
U.S. Negotiators Were Ill-Prepared for Serious Nuclear Negotiations with Iran
NewsMar 11, 2026

U.S. Negotiators Were Ill-Prepared for Serious Nuclear Negotiations with Iran

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Iranian officials in Geneva just before the Feb. 28 U.S.-Israel strikes, but Witkoff’s limited technical knowledge led to mischaracterizations of Iran’s nuclear program. He portrayed the Tehran Research Reactor’s fuel stockpile as...

By Arms Control Association
Was Iran Really Building a Nuclear Weapons? Podcast
NewsMar 10, 2026

Was Iran Really Building a Nuclear Weapons? Podcast

An investigative podcast released by The Guardian examines whether Iran is covertly advancing a nuclear weapons capability. It references recent IAEA findings that Iran’s uranium enrichment has surpassed limits set for peaceful use, and discusses heightened diplomatic pressure from the...

By Arms Control Association
Iran Could 'Go Nuclear' In Wake of US-Israeli Attacks, Experts Warn
NewsMar 9, 2026

Iran Could 'Go Nuclear' In Wake of US-Israeli Attacks, Experts Warn

Experts warn that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets could push Tehran to accelerate its nuclear program. Iran has hinted at resuming higher‑level uranium enrichment and expanding its missile capabilities as a deterrent. The heightened rhetoric comes amid...

By Arms Control Association
March 2026  China News
NewsMar 4, 2026

March 2026 China News

The United States has formally accused China of preparing a nuclear test, citing satellite imagery and intelligence that suggest recent underground drilling activities. Washington claims the preparations violate the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test‑Ban Treaty (CTBT) and could signal a shift in Beijing’s...

By Arms Control Association
March 2026 New START News
NewsMar 4, 2026

March 2026 New START News

The New START treaty between the United States and Russia officially expired in February 2026, ending the last major bilateral nuclear arms control agreement. Washington has immediately called for a "modernized" replacement that would tighten warhead limits, introduce new verification...

By Arms Control Association
March 2026 - Iran News
NewsMar 4, 2026

March 2026 - Iran News

Former President Donald Trump authorized a missile strike on Iran's nuclear enrichment sites, disrupting ongoing talks in Vienna. The operation targeted at least three key facilities, causing significant infrastructure damage and civilian casualties. The United States justified the action as...

By Arms Control Association
Did Iran's Nuclear and Missile Programs Pose an Imminent Threat? No.
NewsMar 4, 2026

Did Iran's Nuclear and Missile Programs Pose an Imminent Threat? No.

The latest issue brief argues that Iran’s nuclear and missile programs do not constitute an imminent threat to regional or global security. It points out that Tehran’s uranium enrichment remains well below weapons‑grade levels and that its ballistic missile inventory...

By Arms Control Association
Inside America's Nuclear Sponge and the Three Areas Set to Absorb First Wave of Attack
NewsMar 3, 2026

Inside America's Nuclear Sponge and the Three Areas Set to Absorb First Wave of Attack

The United States relies on a three‑legged nuclear triad, with the land leg consisting of roughly 450 aging silo‑based ICBMs known as the “nuclear sponge.” Experts warn that these silos are the weakest link, vulnerable to ground‑burst attacks that could...

By Arms Control Association
Why This War With Iran Was Always Necessary
NewsMar 3, 2026

Why This War With Iran Was Always Necessary

The American Thinker editorial argues that a U.S. war with Iran has become inevitable due to Tehran’s accelerating nuclear program and persistent regional destabilization. It cites failed diplomatic overtures, relentless sanctions, and growing support from Gulf allies as evidence that...

By Arms Control Association
White House Offers Shifting Rationales for War with Iran
NewsMar 3, 2026

White House Offers Shifting Rationales for War with Iran

The Middle East conflict entered its fourth day as the Trump administration launched a military strike against Iran. White House officials have offered a series of shifting rationales—ranging from regime change to preemptive action and nuclear disarmament—despite intelligence assessments indicating...

By Arms Control Association
Did Iran's Nuclear and Missile Programs Pose an Imminent Threat? No.
NewsMar 3, 2026

Did Iran's Nuclear and Missile Programs Pose an Imminent Threat? No.

U.S. officials, including President Trump, claimed Iran’s nuclear and missile programs posed an imminent threat to justify the Feb. 28 strikes, yet the International Atomic Energy Agency found no structured weapons program and no evidence of an immediate nuclear danger. The...

By Arms Control Association
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Approve the Iran War Powers Resolution
NewsMar 2, 2026

TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Approve the Iran War Powers Resolution

President Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, launched an unapproved U.S. military strike against Iran on Feb. 28, aiming to topple its leadership and degrade conventional forces. The operation lacked any congressional authorization, contravening the Constitution’s War Powers Act and international...

By Arms Control Association
Proposed Saudi-U.S. Deal Could Allow Uranium Enrichment, Arms Control Experts Warn
NewsMar 1, 2026

Proposed Saudi-U.S. Deal Could Allow Uranium Enrichment, Arms Control Experts Warn

U.S. officials are negotiating a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that could permit the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities. Congressional documents and the Arms Control Association warn the deal may create a pathway to a Saudi weapons program,...

By Arms Control Association
US Removing Guardrails From Proposed Saudi Nuclear Deal, Document Says
NewsMar 1, 2026

US Removing Guardrails From Proposed Saudi Nuclear Deal, Document Says

The United States is stripping previously imposed safeguards from a draft nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia, according to a newly released diplomatic document. The revision would relax limits on technology transfer, allowing broader access to advanced nuclear fuel cycle...

By Arms Control Association
March 2026 Focus
NewsFeb 26, 2026

March 2026 Focus

Trump’s administration abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in May 2023, replacing multilateral diplomacy with a “maximum‑sanctions” approach toward Iran’s nuclear program. The withdrawal re‑imposed crippling sanctions on Tehran’s oil sector and halted inspection mechanisms, prompting Iran to accelerate...

By Arms Control Association
Tell Congress: No Funding for Nuclear Testing
NewsFeb 25, 2026

Tell Congress: No Funding for Nuclear Testing

President Trump has signaled intent to resume explosive nuclear weapons testing, prompting advocacy groups to urge Congress to block related funding. The article highlights historical fallout from past tests, noting lingering health and environmental impacts. Experts claim no technical justification...

By Arms Control Association
Firebreaks: Mitigating the Risks of AI Integration Into Nuclear Operations
NewsFeb 24, 2026

Firebreaks: Mitigating the Risks of AI Integration Into Nuclear Operations

The Firebreaks project responds to a Carnegie Corporation call to curb emerging AI‑driven nuclear risks. Led by the Arms Control Association, Berkeley Risk and Security Lab, and the European Leadership Network, the initiative maps how artificial intelligence could intersect with...

By Arms Control Association
Statement on the Threat of Possible U.S. Strikes on Iran
NewsFeb 20, 2026

Statement on the Threat of Possible U.S. Strikes on Iran

On February 20, 2026, a leading arms‑control organization issued a statement condemning recent U.S. rhetoric about possible military strikes on Iran. The statement argues that such actions would lack justification under international non‑proliferation norms and could destabilize the fragile Middle‑East...

By Arms Control Association
STATEMENT: Renewed U.S. Military Attacks on Iran Not Justified on Nonproliferation Grounds, Say Nuclear Experts
NewsFeb 20, 2026

STATEMENT: Renewed U.S. Military Attacks on Iran Not Justified on Nonproliferation Grounds, Say Nuclear Experts

Nuclear experts from the Arms Control Association warned that a renewed U.S. aerial strike on Iran would not impede Tehran’s potential path to a nuclear weapon and would instead sabotage ongoing diplomatic efforts. They note that the June 2025 attack disrupted...

By Arms Control Association
False Start or New Era: Trump’s Call for “Multilateral” Nuclear Talks
NewsFeb 20, 2026

False Start or New Era: Trump’s Call for “Multilateral” Nuclear Talks

President Donald Trump announced that, following the February 5 expiration of the New START treaty, the United States will pursue a new, modernized nuclear arms‑control agreement that includes Russia and China. The administration rejected Putin’s proposal for a one‑year freeze...

By Arms Control Association
Is Trump Jeopardizing Nonproliferation Efforts to Get A Nuclear Cooperation Deal with Saudi Arabia? A Report To Congress Suggests He...
NewsFeb 19, 2026

Is Trump Jeopardizing Nonproliferation Efforts to Get A Nuclear Cooperation Deal with Saudi Arabia? A Report To Congress Suggests He...

The Trump administration announced a U.S.–Saudi nuclear cooperation framework in November 2025, but a newly obtained report to Congress reveals the draft 123 agreement omits key non‑proliferation safeguards. The proposal would permit Saudi Arabia to pursue a limited uranium enrichment...

By Arms Control Association
ACA Joins 36 Organizations To Urge US to Stop Purchase of Cluster Munitions
NewsFeb 17, 2026

ACA Joins 36 Organizations To Urge US to Stop Purchase of Cluster Munitions

Thirty‑six human‑rights and peace organizations have publicly opposed a reported $210 million U.S. purchase of cluster munitions from Israeli‑owned Tomer. They argue the weapons violate international humanitarian law, especially given that 93 % of 2023 casualties and 71 % of 2022 injuries from...

By Arms Control Association
Thomas Countryman on New START Expiry and the Value of Arms Control
NewsFeb 6, 2026

Thomas Countryman on New START Expiry and the Value of Arms Control

Thomas Countryman, chair of the Arms Control Association, warned that the New START treaty will soon expire and urged the United States to negotiate a replacement with Russia while opening consultations with China. He highlighted the loss of experienced negotiators...

By Arms Control Association
In 2026, a Growing Risk of Nuclear Proliferation
NewsFeb 5, 2026

In 2026, a Growing Risk of Nuclear Proliferation

The Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty, long‑standing pillar of global arms control, faces unprecedented strain in 2026 as Iran appears poised to exit or breach its obligations. A retreat by the United States from multilateral leadership and intensifying great‑power competition are eroding...

By Arms Control Association
The US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Expires Today. Should the World Be Worried?
NewsFeb 5, 2026

The US-Russia Nuclear Treaty Expires Today. Should the World Be Worried?

The United States and Russia saw the New START nuclear arms‑control treaty lapse on February 5, 2026, ending the last major bilateral framework limiting deployed strategic warheads and delivery systems. The agreement, which capped 1,550 warheads and 700 delivery vehicles, included a...

By Arms Control Association