The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is one of the most important international agreements aimed at limiting the spread of weapons of mass destruction. It was signed in 1968 and came into force in 1970, with more than 190 countries currently party to it. The treaty is based on three pillars: non-proliferation, disarmament, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.<br /><br />Signatory and Non-Compliant States:<br />Non-nuclear-weapon states pledged not to pursue possession of nuclear weapons, while the five nuclear-weapon states (the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China) committed not to transfer military nuclear technology and to work gradually towards disarmament. However, countries like Israel, India, and Pakistan have not signed the treaty and possess nuclear arsenals without sanctions. North Korea withdrew from the treaty in 2003 and effectively acquired nuclear weapons.<br /><br />Double Standards in International Policy:<br />Arab and Islamic countries face harsh treatment, as in the cases of Iraq and Iran, where sanctions and interventions are imposed at the slightest suspicion of nuclear armament attempts. Meanwhile, Israel’s nuclear capabilities are overlooked despite being outside the treaty’s framework.<br />This double standard undermines the credibility of international law and reflects political dominance that perpetuates weakness in certain countries—not to maintain peace, but to reinforce nuclear monopoly.<br /><br />The Right of States to Possess Power:<br />It is a fundamental principle of international law that every state has the right to defend itself and protect its sovereignty, provided it does so within its legal obligations. But when major powers violate their commitments and do not relinquish their arsenals, other states have the right to seriously consider acquiring deterrent means to preserve their national security.<br />Imam Ali (peace be upon him) expressed this by saying:<br />"The closest people to peace are those who have their swords drawn,"<br />meaning that deterrent strength can be a key to peace rather than a gateway to war.<br />The Holy Quran confirms this meaning in the verse:<br />"And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war to frighten thereby the enemy of Allah and your enemy." (Al-Anfal: 60)<br />This is a divine directive to prepare deterrent means to protect the nation, not for aggression.<br /><br />The Bitter Reality: Palestine and Lebanon as Examples:<br />The recent Israeli war on Gaza and southern Lebanon has highlighted the huge imbalance of power, how the enemy’s possession of nuclear weapons and unlimited Western support contrasts with the complete international, Arab, and Islamic silence in the face of genocide. This strengthens the conviction that the weakness and division among Muslims is the reason for the continuation of massacres, not the absence of legal or moral justifications.<br /><br />Conclusion:<br />The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was established to prevent catastrophe, but today it is used as a tool to keep oppressed nations in a state of weakness and dominance. As Muslim and Arab states and peoples, we do not demand destruction but justice, equality, and dignity.<br />Just as America and Israel claim the right to defend themselves, so do we—and indeed it is incumbent upon us—to prepare ourselves with strength to frighten the enemy of Allah and our enemy—not for oppression but for deterrence, not for aggression but to protect humanity, in accordance with the verse:<br />"So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers." (Al-Imran: 139)<br /><br />Dr. Ali Jassim Muhammad Al-Saadi<br />Al-Mustaqbal University – The top university among public and private universities in Iraq<br /><br />