Humanity Is ‘One Miscalculation Away From Nuclear Annihilation,’ UN Chief Claims

The secretary-general of the United Nations today called for a complete elimination of nuclear weapons, claiming “humanity is just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation.”“We have been extraordinarily lucky so far,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres contended Monday at Turtle Bay. “But luck is not a strategy. Nor is it a shield from geopolitical tensions boiling over into nuclear conflict.”In his remarks at the Tenth Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Mr. Guterres said the world faces “a nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War” — the impetus for the initial treaty.“Crises — with nuclear undertones — are festering from the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and to many other factors around the world,” he warned.“The risks of proliferation are growing and guardrails to prevent escalation are weakening,” Mr. Guterres said. He urged the conference to “strengthen” the treaty and pursue its ultimate goal of disarmament.“Eliminating nuclear weapons is the only guarantee they will never be used,” Mr. Guterres argued. The Non-Proliferation Treaty has been signed by 186 countries since it was introduced in 1968. In it, they promised never to acquire nuclear weapons. Five additional signatories — America, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China — are permitted to have nuclear weapons with the understanding that eventual disarmament is the ultimate goal. No time frame is set for disarmament negotiations.Britain, France, and America issued a statement affirming the importance of the treaty and of reducing the nuclear threat.“We affirm the aspiration and high stakes associated with preserving the record of non-use of nuclear weapons since 1945,” the nations said. “Nuclear weapons, for as long as they exist, should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war.”The statement also castigated Iran, North Korea, and Russia for undermining the “global rules-based order” with their non-cooperation and threats. The statement expressed “regret” that Iran has not returned to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action “despite intense diplomatic efforts.”“We reiterate that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon,” the three nations said.Meanwhile, Iran claims that it can immediately pivot its nuclear program to produce atomic warheads, the Jerusalem Post reported Sunday. If attacked, Iran will “begin the nuclear breakout project,” according to a Telegram channel linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards monitored by the Post. Iran would swiftly transition its “peaceful nuclear program to a nuclear weapons program,” the channel stated.“Anyone truly concerned about nuclear proliferation and the threat of using nuclear weapons should be focused on preventing Iran from getting a bomb,” a scholar at the Hudson Institute, Michael Doran, said.“Almost the day after, the Turks will get them, then the Saudis. You’ll have a multilateral stand-off in the Middle East,” he added.Disarmament now, Mr. Doran said, would be “unwise.” He sees deterrents as a more strategically viable option for nuclear weapons-possessors.“Distrust is growing between the major powers,” Mr. Doran said. “Just because we sit down and sign an agreement doesn’t mean we trust each other.”“These weapons have a special quality,” Mr. Doran said. “Once you get them, they’re very hard to give up.”

Humanity Is ‘One Miscalculation Away From Nuclear Annihilation,’ UN Chief Claims

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