America Must Unleash Strength as Iran and North Korea Race for Nuclear Weapons

The world’s nuclear powder keg is ticking louder than ever. As Senior Bureau Official Paul Watzlavick leads the U.S. delegation to the Third Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in New York, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Rogue nations like Iran and North Korea are racing toward nuclear breakout, while global arms control frameworks crumble under the weight of geopolitical realities. The United States, under resolute leadership, stands as the last bulwark against a cascade of proliferation that could reshape the world order.

This isn’t just another diplomatic meeting. It’s a battleground where America’s vision for a secure future clashes with the reckless ambitions of adversarial states and the naive idealism of disarmament advocates. The NPT, hailed as the cornerstone of nonproliferation, is under strain, and the U.S. must navigate a minefield of threats to preserve its credibility. Iran’s uranium stockpiles and North Korea’s missile tests aren’t hypotheticals; they’re direct challenges to global stability that demand a response rooted in strength, not concessions.

For too long, the international community has underestimated the resolve of rogue regimes. Iran, emboldened since the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the flawed JCPOA, now enriches uranium to 60% purity, a hair’s breadth from weapons-grade. North Korea, with its ICBMs and preemptive nuclear doctrine, openly mocks diplomatic overtures. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re symptoms of a broader failure to enforce accountability. The U.S. delegation’s mission in New York is a clarion call to restore order through unmatched power and unwavering commitment.

The NPT’s promise hinges on enforcement, not wishful thinking. As Watzlavick and his team engage with allies and adversaries, they carry the weight of a nation determined to lead. The question isn’t whether America can afford to act decisively; it’s whether the world can afford for us not to.

Iran and North Korea aren’t just testing missiles; they’re testing the world’s resolve. Since abandoning the JCPOA’s constraints, Iran has amassed enough enriched uranium to produce multiple warheads in weeks, not years. Its advanced centrifuges and reduced IAEA oversight signal a clear intent to cross the nuclear threshold. Meanwhile, North Korea’s six nuclear tests and growing arsenal, coupled with its cozying up to Russia and China, pose a direct threat to U.S. allies in Asia and beyond. These regimes exploit diplomatic stalemates and sanctions evasion to advance their programs, laughing in the face of toothless resolutions.

The historical record is damning. Iran’s nuclear ambitions, once nurtured by Western technology in the 1970s, morphed into a clandestine program after the 1979 revolution. Decades of negotiations, from the JCPOA to earlier frameworks, failed to curb its defiance. North Korea, a signatory to the NPT until its 2003 withdrawal, used the cover of diplomacy to build an arsenal while the Six-Party Talks collapsed. Both nations have mastered the art of playing the international community for fools, securing concessions while advancing their capabilities.

Some argue for renewed diplomacy, claiming engagement can tame these regimes. This view ignores reality. Iran’s threats to exit the NPT and North Korea’s demands for recognition as a nuclear state reveal their true aims. Pouring faith into multilateral agreements like the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which boasts 93 signatories but zero nuclear-armed states, is a distraction. These frameworks lack teeth and relevance when dealing with actors who thrive on deception. The U.S. must prioritize verifiable enforcement over empty promises, ensuring rogue states face consequences, not rewards.

America’s strength lies in its ability to project power, not in chasing diplomatic mirages. The NPT’s value depends on holding violators accountable, and that starts with a clear-eyed recognition that Iran and North Korea won’t change course without overwhelming pressure. Watzlavick’s delegation must rally allies to tighten sanctions, enhance intelligence sharing, and prepare for all contingencies, including military options if necessary.

The idea of a world without nuclear weapons sounds noble, but it’s a fantasy that weakens America’s hand. Advocates for disarmament, often cloaked in moral superiority, push for treaties that erode U.S. security while ignoring the ambitions of adversaries. The reality is stark: nuclear deterrence, backed by a modernized arsenal, remains the only reliable shield against aggression. The U.S. is investing nearly $946 billion over the next decade to overhaul its nuclear triad, from Sentinel ICBMs to submarine upgrades, ensuring no adversary doubts our resolve.

History proves the folly of unilateral restraint. The Cold War’s end saw U.S. and Russian arsenals shrink, yet adversaries like China, now racing toward 1,000 warheads by 2030, and North Korea seized the opportunity to expand. Russia’s suspension of New START and withdrawal from other treaties like the INF expose the limits of arms control when trust evaporates. Relying on agreements that adversaries ignore or exploit is not strategy; it’s surrender. The U.S. must maintain a technological and numerical edge, deploying advanced systems and exploring road-mobile ICBMs to stay ahead.

Disarmament proponents claim treaties like the NPT’s Article VI mandate reductions, but they misread the treaty’s intent. The NPT balances nonproliferation with the right of nuclear states to maintain credible deterrents. America’s modernization isn’t a violation of the NPT; it’s a fulfillment of its responsibility to prevent proliferation through strength. Weakness invites aggression, and a diminished U.S. arsenal would embolden Iran, North Korea, and others to test our limits. The 2026 NPT Review Conference must reaffirm this reality, not chase utopian dreams.

The NPT’s future hangs in the balance, and America’s leadership is non-negotiable. The 2026 Review Conference looms as a pivotal moment to restore the treaty’s credibility and counter the growing tide of proliferation. Failure to act decisively risks a world where more states, emboldened by Iran and North Korea’s defiance, pursue their own nuclear programs. The U.S. delegation’s work in New York is the opening salvo in a broader campaign to reassert American dominance in shaping global security.

Leadership means action, not rhetoric. The U.S. must rally allies to isolate rogue regimes, strengthen verification mechanisms, and invest in missile defense systems to neutralize threats. It means rejecting calls for disarmament that weaken our deterrence and instead doubling down on modernization to ensure no adversary can challenge our resolve. Above all, it means recognizing that the NPT’s success depends on America’s willingness to wield its power unapologetically.

The road ahead is fraught, but America has faced greater challenges and prevailed. By standing firm in New York and beyond, the United States can chart a course toward a safer world, one where proliferation is checked, adversaries are deterred, and our allies rest secure under the shield of our strength. The time for half-measures is over; the world is watching, and America must lead.