The United States, despite concerns over the
development of chemical weapons, has refused to demand international
inspections of suspected weapons of mass destruction sites outside of Iraq.
U.S. arms control experts said the Chemical Weapons Convention allows
members to demand inspections of suspected chemical weapons facilities. They
said such a tool could have been used against Iran.
"The United States, for example, has claimed publicly for many years,
both the Clinton and Bush administrations, that Iran continues to violate
the treaty," Michael Moodie, president of the Chemical and Biological Arms
Control Institute, said. "Yet Washington has never followed up these
allegations by requesting a challenge inspection in Iran."
Moodie told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month
that the failure to involve inspection challenges reduces the chance that
such a measure could be used in the future. He said this provision is a
critical tool for promoting the fundamental goals of chemical disarmament.
In 2003, the international community will convene for the CWC review
conference. The aim is to develop a strategy to increase the control of
chemical weapons production.
