Rather than helping to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, the Israel-initiated 12-day war with Iran, which the US also joined, has seriously damaged the longstanding Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT has thus far helped prevent 191 countries from joining the dangerous race to build nuclear arsenals, but the underlying rationale of this treaty has now been undermined.

The UN formulated the NPT in the late 1960s to help avert the spread of nuclear weapons and simultaneously allow countries to harness the power of nuclear fissions. Iran signed the NPT in 1968, becoming one of its original members.

While Iran has other sources of energy, it wants to reduce reliance on fast-depleting oil and gas reserves. Being able to harness the potential of nuclear energy has also become a matter of national pride for the ostracised state. Western, and other Middle Eastern powers, however, have been very suspicious of Iran's desire to harness nuclear power, fearing that its illiberal regime will use this........

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