The idea of creating a nuclear and uranium enrichment-free zone is the first step to ensure the non-proliferation regime

Thursday, February 20, 2020

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The idea of creating a nuclear and uranium enrichment-free zone is the first step to ensure the non-proliferation regime, the head of the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Centre for International Security, Alexei Arbatov, told a news conference on Friday. Such an idea has been put forward by Swedish diplomat Hans Blix in his report on weapons of mass destruction. “This step will allow to lift the world community’s concerns, including those over Iran,” he said. “There are no such uranium enrichment facilities like that in Iran’s Natanza throughout the Middle East from Morocco to Pakistan,” Arbatov said. “Iran’s plant has 164 low-capacity centrifuges that will allow Iran to produce nuclear warheads no earlier than in 60 years. Therefore, one can call this project an experimental one,” he said. “Israel may also join this zone. But this issue will be rather political than technical one,” he said. “According to the available information, Israel’s plutonium-based weapons is the only nuclear weapons it has. Therefore, Israel may take this step,” Arbatov said. “The creation of an uranium enrichment free zone will eliminate danger of violating the non-proliferation regime and help meet nuclear ambitions of the Arab states,” he said.

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