Experts in nuclear proliferation from the Stimson Center and Just Security caution that a failure in the ongoing 60-day nuclear discussions between the US and Iran could instigate a series of decisions regarding the development of nuclear weapons in at least eight nations, as faith in US security assurances diminishes. Countries such as South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Australia, and potentially Taiwan are recognized as actively contemplating or already involved in nuclear latency initiatives — the ability to rapidly construct weapons if a security exigency arises. The decline of NATO's reliability, uncertainties surrounding Trump's Article 5 commitment, and the precedent established by Iran's nuclear confrontations have collectively contributed to what specialists describe as an ideal scenario for nuclear proliferation, threatening to reverse decades of non-proliferation efforts.
