Political studies of Islamic world

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

cost

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

FAQ

Peer Review Process

Journal Metrics

News

Forms

Guide for Authors

Nuclear Security in the Middle East: Challenges, Solutions and Regional Cooperation

    Authors

    1 Associate Professor, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran

    2 PhD Candidate of International Relations, Allameh Tabataba University

,

Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

Objective: Considering the fact that nuclear power technology and facilities have recently entered the Middle East, and that more reactors are to enter the area, this article analyzes issues relating to nuclear security challenges and the cooperation of countries in the region. This is vital for Middle Eastern governments who are seeking nuclear power to implement effective national policies in order for membership in international treaties and for joining international regimes. Using library resources, the present paper, seeks to respond appropriately to the main question: what are the core nuclear security challenges in the Middle East?
Method: This research uses descriptive-analytic methodology, and the data is collected from the library resources and documents.
Results: Article findings show that nuclear security in the Middle East is confronted with the challenges posed by proliferation, increasing arsenals, expanding civilian nuclear programs, weakening nuclear export controls, domestic instability and terrorism in several Middle East countries.
Conclusion: The scenario of Middle East becoming nuclear further strengthens its instability.  The Middle East is at the crossroads of growing nuclear (military and civilian) nuclear programs and increased nuclear/radioactive security threats. Therefore, there is an indirect link between nuclear facilities and nuclear weapons that prevents nuclear security. The growing trend of nuclear power plants for civilian and military use has increased the efforts to manage nuclear and radioactive materials and prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
 

Keywords

References
1.Agreement for Cooperation Between the U.S. and the U.A.E. Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, usuaebusiness ,available at:https://usuaebusiness.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/06/usuae_123_brochure6_revised.pdf
2.Ahmad Sabat  ,Challenges and Importance of Nuclear Security: A Case Study of Pakistan, GRIN Publishing (January 7, 2013)
3.Andrew H. Kydd and Barbara F. Walter, ‘The Strategies of Terrorism’, International Security,31(1), Summer 2006, p. 51.
4.Brooke Anderson, 2015. “Saudis Make Push for Nuclear Energy.” Wall Street Journal, September 15. available at:
 http://www.wsj.com/articles/saudis-make-push-for-nuclearenergy- 1442350064
5.Building a Framework for Assurance, Accountability, and Action, JANUARY 2014,NTI Nuclear Security Index, available at:https://ntiindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/2014-NTI-Index-Report.pdf
6.Charles W. Dunne, The Middle East Nuclear Picture: Peaceful Programs or Not, Cause for Concern, FEBRUARY 02, 2018, available at,
http://arabcenterdc.org/policy_analyses/the-middle-east-nuclear-picturepeaceful-programs-or-not-cause-for-concern/
7.Construction of first power unit of Akkuyu nuclear power plant to end in 2019’, Anadolu Agency, (20 October 2012), available at,
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/news/92528-construction-of-first-power-unit-of-akkuyu-nuclear-power-plant-to-end-in-2019
8.Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials’, International Atomic Energy Agency, December 17, 2013, available at,
https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub615web.pdf
9.Daniel McGrory. 2002. “UAE Seizes Al-Qaeda’s Gulf Leader.” The Times, December 24. available at, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/uae-seizes-al-qaedas-gulf-leader-hl2x3hbm3c6
10.  EU Seminar to promote confidence building and in support of a process aimed at establishing a zone free of WMD and means of delivery in the Middle East, The EU Non-Proliferation Consortium, Brussels, 6-7July,2011,availableat,https://www.baselpeaceoffice.org/sites/default/files/imce/menwfz/eu_seminar_to_promote_confidence_building_and_a_middle_east_nwfz.pdf
11.  Gerson S. Sher, May 1, 2014. “Are Medical Radioisotopes Contributing to Global Nuclear Insecurity?” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists 70 (3): 56–64. available at:
http://bos.sagepub.com/content/70/3/56.full
12.  Hans Born et al, Governing the Bomb: Civilian Control and Democratic Accountability of Nuclear Weapons, Oxford University Press, New York, 2010, p. 3.
13.  Holly Watt, ‘Wikileaks: Al-Qaeda Plotted Chemical and Nuclear Attack on the West’, The Telegraph, April 26, 2011, available at:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/wikileaks/8472810/Wikileaks-Al-Qaeda-plotted-chemical-and-nuclear-attack-on-the-West.html
14.  IAEA Incident and Trafficking Database (ITDB)’, IAEA, 2020 Fact Sheet, available at, https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files/20/02/itdb-factsheet-2020.pdf
15.  Ian Kearns, “Keeping the lid on:Nuclear security and the Washington summit”British American Security Information Council:April 2010,available at:
https://basicint.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/06/KeepingTheLidOn.pdf
16.  Information about ARASIA can be found on the IAEA website, at available, http://web.aec.org.sy/arasia/.
17.  Jerzy Zaleski, New Types and Systems of WMD: Consideration by the CD, UNIDIR Background paper by, (May 2011), paragraph 28, http://unidir.org/pdf/ouvrages/pdf-1-92-9045-011-F-en.pdf.
18.  Jim Krane, 2015. “Stability versus Sustainability: Energy Policy in the Gulf Monarchies.” The Energy Journal 36 (4). available at,
https://www.iaee.org/en/publications/ejarticle.aspx?id=2641&id=2641
19.  Jon Wolfsthal, Jeffrey Lewis and Marc Quint, ‘The Trillion Dollar Nuclear Triad: US Strategic Modernization over the Next Thirty Years’, James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies, January 2014, p. 4 at available, https://www.nonproliferation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/140107_trillion_dollar_nuclear_triad.pdf
20.  Joseph A. Camilleri. 1984. The State and Nuclear Power: Conflict and Control in the Western World. Wheatsheaf Books, Brighton, UK, 1984, 347 pp.
21.  Kamran Khan and Molly Moore, "2 Nuclear Experts Briefed Bin Laden, Pakistanis Say," The Washington Post, December 12, 2001. available at:http://www.nci.org/01/12/12-03.pdf
22.  Karen McVeigh, ‘WikiLeaks cables: Yemen radioactive stocks 'were easy al-Qaida target'”, The Guardian, December 19, 2010, available at,
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/19/wikileaks-cables-yemen-al-qaida.
23.  Khalid R. Al-Rodhan. 2006. “The Impact of the Abqaiq Attack on Saudi Energy Security.” February 27. Washington, DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies. available at,https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/media/csis/pubs/060227_abqaiqattack.pdf
24.  Manlio Dinucci, Israel: 200 nuclear weapons aimed at Iran, Voltaire Network, 20 MAY 2018, available at,
https://www.voltairenet.org/article201190.html
25.  Mark Fitzpatrick, Preventing Nuclear Dangers in Southeast Asia and Australasia (An IISS Strategic Dossier) Paperback – January 1, 2009, by The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)
26.  Martin B. Malin, Spring 2017, Nuclear Energy in the Middle East? Regional Security Cooperation Needed, belfercenter ,available at,
https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/nuclear-energy-middle-east-regional-security-cooperation-needed
27.  Matthew Bunn, “Securing the Bomb 2010: Securing all Nuclear Material in Four Years,” Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs: Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, April 2010, p. v., available at: www.nti.org/securingthebomb.
28.  Nabegh Al Sabbagh, “The Case for Developing Nuclear Energy in the Middle East,” Atlantic Council, April 6, 2016.
29.  Nilsu Goren ,Ariane Tabatabai , Beyond the Summits: The Way Forward for Nuclear Security in the Middle East, belfercenter ,April 11, 2014, available at: https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/beyond-summits-way-forward-nuclear-security-middle-east-0
30.  Nima Gerami, Nuclear safety in Iran, post-Fukushima, in: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, (3 August 2011) available at,
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/op-eds/nuclear-safety-iran-post-fukushima.
31.  Noam Herold, ‘Nuclear Terrorism: A 21st Century Threat’, The Counter Terrorist (May/June 2008) p.11.
32.  Nuclear Experts Play Down Threat of Uranium Stolen by ISIS, nbcnews ,July 10, 2014, available at:https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/iraq-turmoil/nuclear-experts-play-down-threat-uranium-stolen-isis-n152926
33.  Nuclear power in the Middle East Wasting energy, The Economist, Nov 28th 2015 edition, available at,  https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2015/11/28/wasting-energy
34.  Nuclear Security Culture’, IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 7, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Vienna, 2008, p. 3, available at:
https://wwwpub.iaea.org/MTCD/Publications/PDF/Pub1347_web.pdf
35.  Nuclear Security Plan 2010–2013,’ IAEA, GOV/2009/54-GC(53)/18, August 17,2009 , available at:
https://onu-vienne.delegfrance.org/IMG/pdf/nuclear-security-plan2010-2013.pdf?2088/7756dfe3b12bf568214eeabc7548ff9517f417ec
36.  Nuclear Security—Measures to Protect against Nuclear Terrorism: Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material’, International Atomic Energy Agency, GOV/INF/2005/10-GC(49)/INF/6, September 6, 2005, available at:
https://police.ge/files/IRD/Saertashoriso%20samartlebrivi/saertashoriso%20xelshekrulebebi/gc49inf-6.pdf
37.  Radioactive Material Was Stolen From an Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant,greenprophet, Posted on January 19, 2012, available at,
https://www.greenprophet.com/2012/01/radioactive-material-was-stolen-from-an-egyptian-nuclear-power-plant/
38.  Raymond Stock “Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood Bomb?,Gatestone Institute ,September 7, 2012, at available,
https://www.meforum.org/3335/egypt-muslim-brotherhood-bomb
39.  Reshmi Kazi, ‘Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Thinking and the Pakistani Connection’, IDSA Issue Brief, January 7, 2014, available at,
https://idsa.in/issuebrief/SaudiArabiasNuclearThinkingandPakistan_rkazi_070114
40.  S. N. Kile, ‘Nuclear Arms Control and Non-proliferation’, in SIPRI Yearbook 2006: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2006, pp. 552–555.
41.  Sami Al Faraj, Strategist issues Iran nuke warning citing tectonic plates, Fukushima, Geo- Strategy Direct, (2 November 2011), p. 5. available at: https://geostrategy-direct-subscribers.com/strategist-issues-iran-nuke-warning-citing-tectonic-plates-fukushima/
42.  Scott Sagan, presentation to the AAAS conference titled: Emerging Nuclear Power in Regional Contexts: Southeast Asia, Singapore: Mandarin Oriental, (3 November 2010).
43.  SECRET//NOFORN//2O3II2O8, Department of Defence (DoD), December 8, 2006, available at,  https://wikileaks.org/gitmo/pdf/ku/us9ku-010024dp.pdf
44.  Seth G. Jones, ‘Al Qaeda is Far from Defeated’, The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2012, available at,
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304723304577369780858510366
45.  Seth G. Jones, ‘Resurgence of Al Qaeda’, RAND Review Vol. 36, No. 2, Fall 2012, available at:
https://www.rand.org/pubs/corporate_pubs/CP22-2012-09.html
46.  Shirley A. Kan, ‘China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues’, Congressional Research Service, January 5, 2015, available at,
 https://fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RL31555.pdf
47.  Statement by Dr Shaul Chorev, Head of Israel Atomic Energy Commission to the 56th General Conference of the IAEA, 19 September 2012, available at:
 http://iaec.gov.il/About/SpeakerPosts/Documents/IAEA%20statement%20Sep2012.pdf
48.  Tariq Khaitous, Why Arab leaders worry about Iran's nuclear program, in: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, (23 May 2008), available at: http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/why-arab-leaders-worry-about-irans-nuclear-program.
49.  The first NSS was held in Washington, DC, April 12–13, 2010. The second was held in Seoul in 2012. The third was in The Hague, Netherlands in 2014. The proposed last one is scheduled to be held in Washington in 2016,The Arms Control Association, available at: https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/NuclearSecuritySummit
50.  The GICNT Statement of Principles is available, U.S. Department of State,At: available, https://www.state.gov/the-global-initiative-to-combat-nuclear-terrorism/
The WMD Commission; the International Commission on Nuclear Non- Proliferation and Disarmament, available at: http://www.icnnd.org/events/index.html.
Political studies of Islamic world
Volume 9, Issue 4 - Serial Number 36
December 2020
Pages 75-97
Files
Share
How to cite
Statistics