More than 20 Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have called on the State Department to end its official silence on Israel’s nuclear weapons programme, amid rising risks of military escalation linked to the war with Iran.
Representatives, led by Joaquin Castro, addressed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that Congress has a “constitutional responsibility” to be fully informed about the nuclear balance of power in the Middle East, the risks of escalation among parties to the conflict, and the US administration’s plans to deal with such scenarios, particularly during the ongoing war coordinated with the Israeli government.
The lawmakers warned that “The risks of miscalculation, escalation, and nuclear use in this environment are not theoretical.” They argued that maintaining ambiguity over the nuclear capabilities of one party to the conflict makes it impossible to develop an effective non-proliferation policy in the region, whether regarding Iran, Saudi Arabia or other countries that base their decisions on assessments of their neighbours’ capabilities.
They also called on the Secretary of State to provide detailed information on what data the United States holds about Israel’s nuclear programme, including fissile material capabilities, nuclear doctrine, and “any indications of Israel planning to use or deploy nuclear weapons during the recent Iran conflict or during other conflicts,” according to Common Dreams.
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