Assessing the Efficacy of Middle East Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Aftermath of Israel–Iran War (2025)
Keywords:
Middle East Nuclear Weapon Free Zone (MENWFZ), Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Israel–Iran Conflict, Regional Security Dynamics, Arms ControlAbstract
The paper critically evaluates the future of a Middle East Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (MENWFZ) in the wake of a war between Israel and Iran in 2025. It puts the discussion into the context broader regional disarmament initiatives dating back to 1974, the logic of deterrence, and the consequences of asymmetric warfare on non-proliferation. The article operationalises existing literature through a qualitative, analytical approach based on secondary sources to establish the feasibility of the zone. The research argues that the strategic efficacy of a MENWFZ has never been more evident, but with the challenges exposed by the war, its practicability is lower than ever. A combination of factors, such as opaque Israeli nuclear capabilities, Iran’s re-adjusted bargaining position, more mistrust and torn alignments among the great powers collectively reduce the margins of consensus. Drawing upon historical precedents, as well as post-war developments, the paper finds that a MENWFZ remains less a practical roadmap than a normative reference point, whose viability requires a fundamental adjustment in regional security logic.
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