The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has raised concerns over North Korea’s increasing nuclear capabilities, citing a significant rise in activity at the Yongbyon nuclear complex. Rafael Grossi, the head of the IAEA, confirmed during his visit to Seoul that the agency has observed intensified operations at the five-megawatt reactor and the reprocessing unit at Yongbyon. Grossi noted that these developments signal a troubling expansion of North Korea’s nuclear weapons production c

India's journey into nuclear weapons began in the early 1940s under British colonial rule. Following independence in 1947, the country embarked on a peaceful nuclear program primarily focused on energy production. At the helm of the program was Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who aimed to harness nuclear energy for civilian use, emphasizing the peaceful applications of atomic power. However, the political landscape began shifting in the 1960s as India faced mounting security concerns, partic

The global system governing nuclear weapons is not anchored in a single treaty but rather a web of agreements, arms-control arrangements, and regional initiatives, each designed to address different facets of nuclear security. While some agreements restrict which nations can possess nuclear weapons, others focus on halting tests, limiting arsenals, or even striving to establish nuclear-weapon-free zones. As of 2025, nine countries—led by the United States and Russia—currently mainta

A nuclear weapon explosion unleashes an overwhelming amount of energy through either nuclear fission or fusion, resulting in devastating consequences that can persist for decades. Upon detonation, a rapid chain reaction occurs, converting a tiny amount of mass into an enormous amount of energy, based on Einstein’s Mass–energy equivalence principle. This energy is released in multiple destructive layers, each contributing to the profound impact on the environment and living organisms

US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran has agreed to never develop nuclear weapons, describing the development as a sign of progress in ongoing diplomatic engagement between the two countries. His remarks come at a time when tensions in the Middle East remain high, with regional conflict continuing to shape the broader geopolitical landscape. Speaking to reporters at the Oval Office, Trump adopted an optimistic tone, indicating that backchannel communicati

Iran has vowed to continue its fight against the United States and Israel following the killing of Ali Larijani, one of Iran's most influential political figures, in an Israeli airstrike. Iranian foreign minister Syed Abbas Araghchi made a bold statement, declaring that Iran’s political and economic structure would remain intact despite the loss of Larijani, the head of the Supreme National Security Council, who was killed alongside his family members and bodyguards near Tehran. I

The United States sharply criticised Russia on Monday, January 12, for its use of a nuclear-capable Oreshnik ballistic missile in Ukraine, describing the launch as a dangerous and unjustified escalation of the ongoing conflict. The condemnation was delivered during an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council convened to address the latest developments in the war. Addressing the council, US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Tammy Bruce said Russia’s decision t

Newly released diplomatic transcripts have revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed serious concerns to the United States as early as 2001 over Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme, questioning why the West appeared largely unconcerned about a country without democratic governance possessing nuclear arms. The remarks were made during a private meeting with then US President

US President Donald Trump has alleged that Russia and China have been secretly conducting underground nuclear tests, accusing the two countries of violating global norms while defending his decision to restart nuclear testing in the United States after more than three decades. The statement has reignited debate over nuclear deterrence, global security, and the risks of renewed arms competition among the world’s leading powers. Speaking during an interview on Sunday, Trump claimed

Saudi Arabia’s decision to sign a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan has stirred debates across South Asia and the Middle East. The pact, which promises that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both, resembles a NATO-style commitment. For Pakistan, struggling with economic and diplomatic challenges, this deal is seen as a significant political win and a potential deterrence against India. Yet, beneath the surface, exper

What exactly is a hydrogen bomb, the most destructive weapon ever built? Unlike the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, which relied on the fission of heavy elements like uranium and plutonium, a hydrogen bomb unleashes its fury through a two-stage process that combines nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Fission provides the spark, generating immense heat and pressure, under which isotopes of hydrogen such as deuterium and tritium fuse tog

US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran on Friday, asserting on his Truth Social platform that he had personally intervened to prevent the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In the same message, Trump accused the Iranian leader of ingratitude and threatened renewed airstrikes if Iran made progress in developing military-grade nuclear capabilities. The remarks followed an already tense geopolitical atmosphere, as Iran prepared to hold a state

US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is seriously considering a military strike on Iran, though he has not issued a final order. According to senior White House aides, Trump is monitoring developments closely and wants to give Iran a final opportunity to halt its nuclear program voluntarily. The current focus is on Iran’s Fordow uranium enrichment facility, an underground site believed to be heavily fortified and capable of withstanding conventional attacks. Only advanced bun

In 1961, the president of France posed a hard question to the US president: Would the United States really risk its own destruction to protect its allies in Europe from a nuclear strike? The inquiry was rooted in skepticism that the US would ever trade one of its cities for the defense of a partner nation. Not reassured, France had already taken matters into its own hands by conducting its first nuclear weapons test the previous year, thus ensuring a measure of strategic independence.