nuclear arms

Obama to Place Limits on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Use

President Obama has outlined his plans for overhauling America’s nuclear strategy, implementing more stringent limitations on when the country can use nuclear weapons. However, the president made clear that exceptions would be made for countries like Iran and North Korea that have “violated or renounced the main treaty to halt nuclear proliferation.”

Following the recent U.S.-Russia arms agreement, he described the overall U.S. approach — fancily titled the Nuclear Posture Review — as one designed around pushing the world “toward making nuclear weapons obsolete,” and he said there will be incentives for countries to quell their nuclear plans. And, in an attempt to set an example ourselves, he said part of this new strategy will involve renouncing the development of any new nuclear weapons in the U.S.

Despite the scaling back, the president reiterated that the safety of the country will be ensured.

I’m going to preserve all the tools that are necessary in order to make sure that the American people are safe and secure,” he said, as officials added the strategy would be reconsidered if there were a biological attack launched against the U.S.


When asked about the nuclear program in Iran, where this new strategy will likely first be tested, Obama said he was convinced that “the current course they’re on would provide them with nuclear weapons capabilities,” though he gave no further details.

Obama Limits When U.S. Would Use Nuclear Arms [NYT]

Obama to Place Limits on U.S. Nuclear Weapons Use