Nuclear weapons and arms control news covering proliferation, disarmament treaties, strategic stability, and nuclear powers' arsenals and policy.
SIPRI's 2026 annual report shows China's nuclear warhead stockpile reached 620 as of January 2026, up from 600 a year earlier, marking the fastest expansion of any nuclear-armed state. The nine nuclear powers possessed 12,187 warheads globally, with 4,012 deployed and up to 2,200 on high alert.
The US is lobbying IAEA Board members to back a draft resolution ordering Iran to disclose the status of 60% enriched uranium at nuclear sites bombed by Israel and the US in 2025-2026. The resolution comes ahead of the IAEA Board's quarterly meeting this week, as Iran has no functioning centrifuges and has resisted a new nuclear deal.
Former Defense Ministry Joint Staff chief Koji Yamazaki called for revising Japan's nonnuclear principle that prohibits bringing nuclear weapons into the country. Three panel members expressed caution, while one said revision could be possible if requested by the US. The expert panel is discussing updates to Japan's national security documents.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi and the US, UK, France, and Germany called on Iran to resume nuclear inspections and provide data on enriched uranium stores. The US and E3 seek a Board resolution demanding full access. Iran warned coercion undermines diplomacy.
Kim Yo Jong called US denuclearization push an 'anachronistic dream' as Xi Jinping travels to North Korea for first talks in nearly seven years. Kim Jong Un seeks stronger China ties to break isolation and project united front against Washington, while prioritizing Russia with troops and munitions for Ukraine.
Former Israeli defense minister Yoav Gallant said in a Monday interview that physically removing Iran's enriched uranium is an option, calling it dangerous but worth the price to avoid existential risk. He also criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for a 'display of weakness' in the past month.
This commentary argues that North Korea's announcement to expand its nuclear arsenal at an exponential rate signals a shift in strategy, potentially influenced by China's efforts to restrain Pyongyang. It suggests that Kim Jong Un's timing, coinciding with Xi Jinping's visit, may be a deliberate move to assert independence.
Iran rejected an IAEA report as a 'tool of political pressure', citing restricted access to bombed nuclear sites as a reason for inspection gaps. Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Israeli-American strikes violated Iran's sovereignty and nuclear safety. The IAEA called lack of access a 'proliferation concern'.
John Bolton argues that a weak Iran deal could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East, as Gulf states lose faith in US security guarantees. He contends that the US and Iran's internal opposition must weaken Tehran's regime to prevent regional instability.
This commentary argues that India's deployment of active nuclear warheads marks a significant strategic shift, moving away from its longstanding policy of keeping warheads separate from launchers. It contends that this change, along with similar developments in China, increases risks of nuclear escalation in the Indo-Pacific region.