00:00We can now bring in Alicia Sanders, Zachary Policy and Research Coordinator at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
00:07Thank you so much for joining us on the program today.
00:09What do we know about the U.S. strikes on these three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend?
00:14Were they successful?
00:18I can't condemn in the strongest terms U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
00:23They are dangerous, illegal and ineffective to actually address any outstanding concerns about Iran's nuclear program.
00:32The only solution is diplomacy, is working towards a negotiated agreement and valuing the international agreements we already have to constrain nuclear weapons programs,
00:43which includes the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
00:47But Iran last week has been threatening to walk away from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the NPT.
00:54Given the strikes on its nuclear facilities by Israel now, of course, over the weekend, we have those U.S. strikes.
01:01What happens if they walk away from that?
01:05The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and international safeguards are an essential tool for the international community
01:11to be able to verify that any nuclear material is not being diverted for weapons purposes.
01:18This is why international treaties are a much more viable, sustainable solution to eliminate nuclear weapons than any military action.
01:28That's why ICANN worked with over 120 governments to negotiate and adopt the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,
01:35which includes a verifiable pathway for all governments to join, including Israel as the only nuclear-armed state in the region,
01:42France or other nuclear-armed governments, to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
01:46This is really the viable, sustainable path forward towards peace in the region and internationally.
01:52Alicia, there are reports that there were trucks at the Fordor nuclear site a day before the U.S. strike.
01:58Would you have any idea what they were doing there and what material could have been moved?
02:02Other analysts and experts have expressed concern that Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium could have been moved.
02:12Now, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency cannot himself identify exactly where is this stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
02:22This points to why military action is such an ineffective and dangerous path,
02:28and all countries must work towards diplomacy as the only solution to ensure that there is not a nuclear weapons program in Iran.
02:38It's important to note that international inspectors do not currently assess that Iran has a nuclear weapons program.
02:44Israel is the only nuclear-armed country in the region.
02:48Alicia, the Iranians were engaged in diplomacy with the United States.
02:52They even had a six-round of talks planned for the 15th of June in Oman.
02:57Then the Israeli strike started, and here we are.
03:00Now, if U.S. intelligence back in March and the IAEA itself deemed that Iran was not pursuing a nuclear weapon,
03:08won't they be encouraged to do so now?
03:12There is a real risk that this is the very dangerous outcome of these military strikes.
03:18That's why it's really important that the international community highlight the danger of nuclear weapons,
03:25that these weapons do not promote anyone's security.
03:28In fact, they pose a risk for every country that possesses them,
03:32whether that's Israel, whether that's France, whether that's the United States.
03:36All countries need to eliminate these nuclear weapons before they eliminate us.
03:42Israel is clearly worried about an Iranian nuclear program that goes rogue.
03:47Iran was allowing in inspectors as part of the JCPOA.
03:52Then the United States walked away from that.
03:54Then the IAEA inspectors continued to visit Iran.
03:57Yes, there were reports that Iran was dragging its feet.
04:00Yes, there were reports that Iran was enriching uranium to higher levels.
04:06But where does it all leave things now,
04:10given that we don't know when the next inspection is going to be allowed?
04:12Iran still is a party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
04:18This is a very important agreement under which Iran does undertake not to pursue nuclear weapons.
04:26It is critical that Iran continues to adhere to this instrument
04:29and that all countries support these international agreements
04:34that are the best solution that we have to actually constrain nuclear weapons worldwide
04:40and work towards their total elimination.
04:43And Alicia, you mentioned this.
04:44And just because you're here, I have to ask you,
04:46because Israel has nuclear weapons,
04:48who checks on Israel's nuclear weapons?
04:52Does the IAEA have any jurisdiction over them?
04:54Israel is not party to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty,
04:59which does impose safeguards, obligations on its parties.
05:03So it does not undertake the same level of inspections
05:08that other governments that are party to this agreement do.
05:11Again, this is why it's critical that Israel,
05:14along with all countries,
05:15join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,
05:18which would require it to verifiably dismantle its nuclear weapons program
05:22in accordance with international inspections.
05:25Alicia, Sandra, Zachary, thank you so much for joining us on the program today.
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