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Nuclear Zero Fact Sheet #1
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) (signed and ratified by the U.S.)

1. The United States, Russia, Great Britain, France and China (the "nuclear weapons states" (NWS) may own nuclear weapons but may not transfer them to other nations (Article I) and must negotiate in good faith the dismantlement of their nuclear arsenals (Article VI).
2. Other signatories (the "non-nuclear weapon states" (NNWS) agree not to acquire nuclear weapons (Article II) and to accept safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that they are not diverting nuclear energy from peaceful uses to weapon development (Article III).
3. All parties may produce nuclear energy for civilian purposes (Article IV).
4. Parties may withdraw from the Treaty with three months notice (Article X).

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which went into effect in 1970, was reaffirmed indefinitely by 188 nations in 1985. Israel, India and Pakistan have refused to sign. North Korea withdrew from the Treaty in 2003 but its status is under negotiation in the six-nation talks (China, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, and Russia.)

The Treaty is reviewed every five years in Review Conferernces and a Preparatory Committee meets in other years, except not in the year after the Review Conference. The next Review Conference takes place in New York City in May 2010.