Thursday, May 26 2005 11:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The month-long conference reviewing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is virtually heading for a failure with sharp disagreements among members, including the five nuclear weapon States, over Iran, North Korea and disarmament issue.

Diplomats say differences are so extreme that even the five nuclear weapons States - the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China - have so far not been able to agree among themselves on the minimum acceptable language for the declaration on Iran and North Korea as also other issues and thus have failed to put up a joint front.

The basic differences arise from the perception of non nuclear weapon States that the five are not doing enough to eliminate their own atomic weapons as they had pledged.

Suspicions were strengthened by the reports that the United States is developing smaller nuclear warheads and nuclear bunker buster weapons.

Diplomats from non nuclear weapons States say if Washington develops such weapons, others are bound to follow the suit, thus defeating the very purpose of the treaty to make the world safe and free from nuclear arms.

The US wants to focus on Iran and North Korea but Tehran's objections have derailed Washington's attempts.

Another point of difference is Israel, which is estimated to have as many as 200 nuclear weapons but has never admitted to possession of atomic arms. Cairo wants the conference to call on Israel to join the treaty.

India, Pakistan and Israel do not subscribe to the treaty, which has been ratified by 188 member States.