A historic conference bringing Iran and Israel together with Arab states to discuss a ban on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons in the Middle East is scheduled to take place in Helsinki in December, it has emerged.
The Finnish organisers of the United Nations-backed bid to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction are said to be cautiously optimistic that the conference will go ahead despite high tensions in the Gulf.
The Finnish team has held about 70 meetings with officials in the region and made repeated trips to Israel and Iran since the veteran diplomat Jaakko Laajava was appointed "facilitator" of the consensus in October. So far, none of the countries invited to Helsinki have turned the invitation down.
Details of the plans were discussed this week at a meeting in Qatar on non-proliferation in the Gulf organised by the British American Security Information Council (Basic). As well as the states in the region, the Helsinki conference could be attended by the five nuclear weapons states recognised under the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty - the US, UK, Russia, France and China - and by relevant UN organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Israel is generally believed to have an arsenal of 100-250 nuclear warheads, but has a policy of neither confirming nor denying its existence.
Few of those involved in organising the Helsinki conference expect Israel to give up its weapons in the near future, or even change its doctrine of deliberate ambiguity.
However, Paul Ingram, the executive director of Basic, said: "When you start a process like this, with clear objectives, it is amazing how it evolves. The process itself builds confidence and improves the atmosphere.
"Also, ordinary Israelis now recognise that a zone free of nuclear weapons is preferable to a region with two or more weapons states."
It is hoped that the Helsinki conference will address regional perceptions of double standards underlying Israel's nuclear weapons monopoly set against the constant western pressure on Iran to give up uranium enrichment.
Speaking at the Qatar meeting, Hans Blix, a former IAEA director general, said he thought Iran could be coaxed into attending.
"Iran invested much money and prestige in its enrichment program and while other countries in the world have closed valuable nuclear installations, Iran has seemed totally opposed to abandoning enrichment and other sensitive activities," Mr Blix said.
"Yet, would Iran not be tempted to do so - for say 25 years - if it were assured supply of uranium fuel for power reactors and could achieve that Israel eliminated its nuclear weapons and stocks and abandoned its sensitive nuclear activities for the same period?"
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What is the Helsinki conference on a Middle East ban on nuclear, chemical and biological weapons?
The Helsinki conference is a UN-backed meeting scheduled for December to discuss establishing a zone in the Middle East free of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. It aims to bring Iran, Israel and Arab states together to negotiate non‑proliferation measures for the region.
Who is organising and facilitating the Helsinki non‑proliferation talks?
The initiative is led by Finnish organisers under a United Nations-backed bid. Veteran diplomat Jaakko Laajava was appointed in October as the facilitator, and the Finnish team has held about 70 meetings and made repeated trips to Israel and Iran while preparing the conference.
Which countries and international bodies could attend the Helsinki conference?
Besides Middle East states, the conference could be attended by the five nuclear weapon states recognized under the 1968 NPT—the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, France and China—and by relevant UN organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Have any invited countries declined to attend the Helsinki conference?
According to organisers, so far none of the countries invited to Helsinki have turned the invitation down.
What key issues will the Helsinki talks try to address for investors watching geopolitical risk?
The talks will focus on creating a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and on addressing regional perceptions of double standards—specifically Israel's alleged nuclear monopoly versus sustained Western pressure on Iran over uranium enrichment. These are core political and security issues that can influence regional stability.
What does the article say about Israel’s nuclear status and likelihood of disarmament?
The article notes Israel is generally believed to have an arsenal of about 100–250 nuclear warheads but maintains a policy of neither confirming nor denying this. Organisers do not expect Israel to give up its weapons soon or to abandon its doctrine of deliberate ambiguity.
Could Iran be persuaded to abandon uranium enrichment, according to experts quoted?
Former IAEA director general Hans Blix suggested Iran might be coaxed into attending if offered incentives—one hypothetical example was assured supply of uranium fuel for power reactors and reciprocal steps such as Israel eliminating its nuclear weapons and sensitive activities for a set period (he mentioned 25 years as an example). The article also notes Iran has invested prestige and money in its enrichment program and has so far seemed opposed to abandoning it.
How might starting the Helsinki process affect regional confidence and the broader security atmosphere?
Paul Ingram of the British American Security Information Council (BASIC) said beginning a process with clear objectives tends to build confidence and improve the atmosphere. He also suggested ordinary Israelis increasingly recognise that a nuclear‑weapon‑free zone could be preferable to a region with multiple weapons states.
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