"Provisions
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, also referred to as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), obligates the five acknowledged nuclear-weapon states (the United States, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, France, and China) not to transfer nuclear weapons, other nuclear explosive devices, or their technology to any non-nuclear-weapon state. Non-nuclear-weapon States Parties undertake not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons or nuclear explosive devices. They are required also to accept safeguards to detect diversions of nuclear materials from peaceful activities, such as power generation, to the production of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices. This must be done in accordance with an individual safeguards agreement, concluded between each non-nuclear-weapon State Party and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Under these agreements, all nuclear materials in peaceful civil facilities under the jurisdiction of the state must be declared to the IAEA, whose inspectors have routine access to the facilities for periodic monitoring and inspections. If information from routine inspections is not sufficient to fulfill its responsibilities, the IAEA may consult with the state regarding special inspections within or outside declared facilities."
http://www.fas.org/nuke/control/npt/
Also from above link:
"The NPT is the most widely accepted arms control agreement. As of early 2000 a total of 187 states were Parties to the NPT. Cuba, Israel, India, and Pakistan were the only states that were not members of the NPT."
What this mean? It means that since Iran is part of NPT Russia, China or other member of NPT can legally provide Iran with nuclear technology- for peaceful purpose. And Iran is forbidden from developing nuclear weapons.
And since India wasn't part of NPT, members of NPT were forbidden to transfer any nuclear technology to India, BUT since India was not part of Treaty there wasn't legal reason to prevent India from developing Nuclear technology. Now that India has nuclear technology, and since Bush is talking about sharing nuclear technology, India is going to have to become a NPT member- how *exactly* this is done will be interesting. I'm guessing that way India enters into NPT, might provide a way for Pakistan and Israel to also enter this treaty {leaving Cuba as only nation not being a member}.
Current Events » in reply to Iran's Best Friend
re: Iran's Best Friend
