by Emmy Tither* The sun began to rise over the ancient city. Outside the city’s walls, an encircling army marched silently for the seventh day, their footsteps synchronized, their faces resolute. On this final day, as the army’s priests blew their trumpets, a powerful, reverberating sound filled the air. Soldiers shouted in unison, the ground […]
Exploring Iran’s Nuclear Program
With decreasing transparency and increasing tensions in the Middle East, Iran’s nuclear ambitions are constantly in the news. How close is Iran to a nuclear weapon, and how should the United States approach Iran’s nuclear program? In this episode, we explore past diplomacy related to Iran’s nuclear program and ways to move forward. Program Coordinator […]
How Military Tritium Production in Civilian Reactors Can Further Non-proliferation Goals
by Taylor Loy* Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, is an essential component of most advanced nuclear weapons designs and has typically been produced in secure military facilities. Only a few grams of tritium per warhead are needed to boost nuclear weapon yields significantly. Tritium’s relatively short half-life means that it needs renewal more often […]
Lessons from South Africa: A New Strategy for Iran’s Nuclear Threat
by William Bittner* Iran is closer than ever to acquiring nuclear weapons. The risks to the international community are obvious—an arms race with the Gulf monarchies or theft by terrorists, to name just two—but so are the costs to Iran itself, which is already crippled by economic sanctions that have contributed to domestic unrest. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan […]
Syria Still Has Chemical Weapons
Greg Koblentz, member of the Center’s Scientists Working Group of Chemical and Biological Threats, co-authored an op-ed in Foreign Affairs about eradicated the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal. The overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after 13 years of civil war happened more quickly and with far less bloodshed than anyone expected. It was especially surprising that […]
