The Year of The Nuke

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Between threats, tests and U.N.-sponsored sanctions, 2006 was a radioactive year for nuclear proliferation across the globe — and as 2007 gets under way, the action shows no sign of abating. A rundown of the world's nuclear powerhouses, and what to expect in the coming months.

Iran
Responding to economic sanctions the U.N. Security Council imposed on Tehran last month for refusing to end its nuclear program, the Iranian parliament passed a measure on Dec. 27 to accelerate its research and limit cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). More restrictions could follow.

North Korea
Six-nation talks over Pyongyang's nuclear projects stalled last month when U.S. officials refused to lift financial sanctions before beginning disarmament negotiations. Though no date has been set for talks to resume, lead U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill says it will be "weeks, not months."

India
President Bush reversed 30 years of U.S. policy last month by signing an agreement that would allow New Delhi — which never signed the Nonproliferation Treaty — to buy U.S. fuel and reactors. The arrangement must get approval from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, the IAEA and the U.S. Congress before taking effect, but critics already fear it could spark an arms race with China and Pakistan.

Pakistan
The U.S. has said that Pakistan will not be offered a deal similar to India's. No matter. Islamabad is already finalizing a nuclear energy cooperation agreement with China that would provide Pakistan with two 300-MW reactors by the end of the year, while President Pervez Musharraf boasted on Dec. 24 that his country would continue to increase its already-strong nuclear defensive capabilities.

Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ended decades of ambiguity about his country's nuclear capabilities when he inadvertently named Israel in a list of countries that possess such weapons. Officials insist he was misinterpreted, but Iran is pressing the U.N. to place Israel's facilities under inspection — a move the U.S. would most likely veto.