Iran, slowly but surely following the lead of other world nations in pursuing an atomic energy programme, has in recent months increasingly attracted the ire of both the Bush administration and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear supervisory body.

A signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a voluntary agreement intended to promote disarmament and limit the spread of nuclear weaponry, the IAEA are concerned that Iran’s atomic energy programme is substantially more advanced than has so far been declared.

Participation in the treaty permits member countries to develop an atomic energy programme, but forbids the development of nuclear weapons. It also obliges countries to submit to regular IAEA inspection.

While clear question marks exist over the extent of Iran’s programme and diplomatic discussions continue and, indeed, remain in the very early days of exploration, a number of international commentators have expressed increasing concern about a possible Israeli-US military attack against Iranian nuclear installations, said to be deep underground and amongst the most heavily fortified in the world.

Concerns have also been raised about the possible use by the United States of so-called bunker busting ‘mini-nukes‘, which - if used - would be the first use of nuclear weapons in battle, aside from depleted uranium, since the American Hiroshima and Nagasaki atrocities of 1945, where over 100,000 people were killed instantly and in the immediate aftermath of the attacks. In the years since, hundreds of thousands have died from the effects of radiation poisoning. The USA is the only country in the world to have ever used nuclear weapons in an act of aggression against another sovereign state.

Not all countries signed up for the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which was opened in 1968.

Several states who didn’t have freely and successfully gone on to develop nuclear weapons since, including Pakistan, India and Israel.

North Korea, originally a Treaty member, but who has since withdrawn from it, is now thought by many analysts to have developed nuclear weapon capabilities. Iran’s withdrawal as a signatory from the NPT, which is thought would enable greater openness, while removing constraints, has been suggested as one possible solution to the crisis.

The next public meeting is on Thursday 2nd February at 7.30pm at the same venue in Partick Burgh Hall, Glasgow. All welcome.