How the international community obtained a nuclear weapons-free agreement with Iran―and lost it thanks to Donald Trump
If the objective of the U.S. war upon Iran is to ensure that that country does not develop nuclear weapons, that goal was attained more than a decade ago through a far different approach than the one now being followed by the Trump administration.
Iran, as a signer of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty of 1970, had agreed to forgo the development of nuclear weapons. Even so, fears grew during the early 21st century that Iran’s uranium enrichment program, used for peaceful purposes, might be diverted to the development of the Bomb, thereby throwing the volatile Middle East into yet another crisis, including a frenzied nuclear arms race.
Read more…Which way to national security?
On April 1, Donald Trump startled the world by publicly declaring that he was “absolutely” considering withdrawing the United States from the 77-year-old NATO alliance. Trump’s remarks came only hours after Pete Hegseth, his Defense Secretary, declined to reaffirm the U.S. government’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense.
Actually, the Trump administration’s recent trashing of NATO was less shocking than it appeared. During Trump’s two terms in office, he derided the alliance from the start, developed a warm relationship with its foremost adversary (Vladimir Putin), withdrew U.S. support from embattled Ukraine, called for U.S. annexation of Canada (a NATO member), threatened a military takeover of Greenland (a territory of Denmark, a NATO member), and failed to consult his NATO allies about launching a U.S. war on Iran. Indeed, the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy of December 2025 outlined a sharp shift in U.S. policy from collective action through NATO toward a heavy reliance on U.S. military power.
In line with his “America First” rhetoric, Trump has reverted to an old U.S. tradition― nationalism―and all that entails in terms of militarism, war, and imperialism.
Read more…
by Kati Juva
Finland has traditionally been active in promoting nuclear disarmament and alleviating international tensions. The legendary OSCE conference was held in Helsinki in 1975, and Finland was active promoting Nuclear-Free Norden. Before joining NATO (2023) Finland hosted several meetings between the US and Russian leaders on security and disarmament.
Read more…Was Trump’s nuclear threat serious?
On 7 April, US President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran: either make a deal with him to end the war by 8 pm US Eastern Time (2400 GMT), or “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again”. Trump’s rhetoric has frequently been overstated, but was this a serious threat to use nuclear weapons? Some believe it was a negotiating tactic, others condemn it as a veiled nuclear threat. The White House social media response was to deny it. On the other hand, the Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, was none too sure, responding to the question of whether this was, indeed, a nuclear threat, saying:
“Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do.”
Read more…Full statement here and below. April 7, 2026.
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has continued to escalate over more than a month, with impacts expanding across the region and beyond. Physicians for Social Responsibility, Physicians for Human Rights, and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War renew our call for an immediate end to all fighting and a return to negotiations for the health and security of our planet.
Read more…
It is now 15 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011—and the tsunami it generated—wrought havoc on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP). A predictably dangerous plant design, a corrupt and negligent operator, and Japan’s incestuous and corrupted ‘nuclear village’ involving collusion and revolving doors between government, regulator and operators, combined in a lethal mix.
Read more…Why Peace Belongs in Medical Education: Reflections from the 75th IFMSA General Assembly
by Anna Khouri, IPPNW International Student Representative, Germany
Last week, I had the privilege of representing International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) at the 75th General Assembly of the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations in Copenhagen. Bringing together nearly 900 medical students from more than 120 countries, the gathering was a powerful reminder that the future of medicine is profoundly global and deeply interconnected with the political and social conditions that shape health.
For one week, Copenhagen became a meeting place for students who are not only learning how to diagnose and treat disease, but who are also asking larger questions: What responsibilities do physicians have beyond the clinic? And how can medical professionals contribute to a more peaceful world?
Read more…International law needs international enforcement
Donald Trump’s war of choice in the Middle East is but the latest indication that the system of international law―which provides guidelines for the behavior of nations in world affairs―is crumbling.
Read more…War on Iran: nuclear consequences
President Donald Trump declared in his State of the Union address that he would see to it that Iran would never get a nuclear weapon. He had previously claimed that the strikes in 2025 had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programme, although there is evidence that the destruction might not have been as absolute as he claimed. Iran’s decision to again take part in negotiations on its nuclear programme with the Trump administration, despite the attacks in 2025, perhaps showed a desire to get back on an even keel internationally and end the crippling sanctions on the country.
Read more…IPPNW Condemns Strikes Against Iran, Calls for Return to Negotiations
Read full statement here and below. 28 February, 2026.
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) unequivocally condemns the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel and calls on them to cease immediately all further use of force and to return to the negotiating table.
The unprovoked strikes, ostensibly to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and the ballistic missiles capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, are incredibly dangerous and counterproductive. The conflict threatens the lives of large numbers of civilians in Iran and Israel. Attacking Iranian facilities could cause widespread devastation and significant releases of radioactivity. And the situation could escalate into a regional war and ultimately lead to the use of nuclear weapons — the very thing the world most needs to prevent.
Read more…
Bimal Khadka
Bjorn Hilt
Charles K. Johnson
Gunnar Westberg
IPPNW
John Loretz
Lawrence Wittner
Maria Valenti
mollymcgint
Sue Wareham
Tilman Ruff
Tim Wright
Xanthe Hall
IPPNW peace and health blog 