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US Lawmakers: Iran, North Korea Are Biggest Threats to Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty

Eunjung Cho

   WASHINGTON - U.S. lawmakers stressed that Iran and North Korea pose the
   biggest threats to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), in a
   hearing Tuesday marking the 50th anniversary of the treaty.

   Democratic Congressman Theodore Deutch, chairman of the Middle East,
   North Africa, and International Terrorism subcommittee of the House
   Foreign Affairs Committee, said, "Congress must understand how to
   protect the treaty from two immediately looming challenges: Iran and
   North Korea."

   Deutch pointed out North Korea is the only state that has withdrawn
   from the NPT and the U.S. must work with the international community to
   ensure that Iran does not go down the same path.

   Iran's threats

   Republican Congressman Joe Wilson was among many who expressed concerns
   over Iran's repeated threats to quit the NPT.

   "The North Korean case has served as a model for the mullahs in Iran.
   They learned that through threatening to leave the NPT they can hold
   the international community hostage and extract important concessions.
   The Iranians have also learned that the violations or abrogation of NPT
   come with absolutely no penalties," said Wilson.

   Iran first threatened to exit the NPT in May 2018 following President
   Donald Trump's announcement of the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA, the
   Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Iran also has taken incremental
   steps to reduce its compliance with the nuclear deal it forged with the
   U.S., China, France, Russia, Britain and Germany.

   Despite Iran's threats, experts who testified at the hearing held views
   that Iran will not easily drop out of the NPT.

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