Arms Control Now
The following articles and essays provide additional insight into current developments and issues which our staff and experts are following.
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Tear Gas is Banned in War. It is Time to Ban its Domestic Use.
June 5, 2020
While the Chemical Weapons Convention bans the use of toxic chemicals in warfare because they do not discriminate between combatants and non-combatants, but carves out an exception for their use for "domestic riot control purposes" despite their indiscriminate use against non-violent protestors and those engaged in acts of violence alike. -
Responses to Audience Questions from April 29 New START Briefing
May 4, 2020
The Arms Control Association hosted a briefing on "The Future of New START and U.S. National Security" on April 29. Here are some answers to additional questions that participants submitted but that the speakers were unable to address due to time constraints. -
OPCW Investigation Confirms Syria Responsible for Three Chemical Attacks in 2017
April 13, 2020
An inaugural report released April 8 by the OPCW's new Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) attributes a series of chemical weapons attacks in Syria in March 2017 to the Syrian Air Force. The new OPCW team has a mandate to assign responsibility for chemical attacks identified by the OPCW's Fact-Finding Mission reports that were not investigated by the United Nations-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism, which was dissolved in 2017. -
The IAEA’s March Reports on Iran’s Nuclear Activities Raise Questions
March 16, 2020
Two new reports by the IAEA detail the status of Iran’s nuclear program and raise questions about its compliance with its international legal obligations. While Iran continues to comply with its JCPOA-related safeguards and has not taken further steps to breach the 2015 nuclear deal, the IAEA is investigating possible undeclared nuclear activities likely related to Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons research. -
As 2020 Dawns, Disarmament Treaties Face Financial Hardship
January 17, 2020
As the United Nations system staggers under increasing levels of debt, a small group of other multilateral treaties, many of which focus on disarmament topics, are threatened for another reason: lack of money. -
Looking Ahead 2020: Arms Trade Issues Should See Center Stage in the U.S. Election
December 16, 2019
Will arms trade issues have a prominent role in the public discourse that leads up to the 2020 U.S. election? -
Fifty Years Ago, the First Strategic Arms Limitation Talks Began
November 17, 2019
Though imperfect, the SALT agreements set a standard for future bilateral nuclear arms control treaty negotiations. -
Select Statements of Support for New START
November 13, 2019
A continuously updated list of statements of support for extension of New START from former and current government officials and national security leaders. -
A Message from the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
November 1, 2019
Now is the time for civil society and world leaders to renew our resolve to ensure the deep humanitarian conviction of the hibakusha that “No one else shall ever again suffer as we have.” -
Our Place in the Universe and Nuclear Weapons: Reflections from a Nuclear Arms Control Negotiator
October 28, 2019
Amb. Timerbaev was a member of the Soviet/Russian diplomatic service for 43 years and participated in negotiations on numerous arms control treaties. We are pleased to be able to share these reflections by the late ambassador with our readers.