The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference opened in New York on Monday, immediately marred by a heated exchange between the United States and Iran over the selection of a vice-chairperson.
The conference, which meets every five years to assess progress on nuclear disarmament, began with procedural disagreements that escalated into sharp criticisms.
Iran accused the United States of attempting to block its participation in leadership roles, while Washington countered that Tehran's record on nuclear compliance disqualified it from such positions.
The dispute underscores the deep divisions that persist among NPT member states, even as the treaty faces challenges from nuclear modernization programs, non-signatory states with nuclear weapons, and the unresolved status of the Iran nuclear deal.
Diplomats expect the four-week conference to be dominated by discussions on disarmament commitments, the Middle East nuclear-weapon-free zone, and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. However, the early confrontation suggests that procedural battles could overshadow substantive talks.