We are often asked which countries have nuclear weapons, are seeking them, or may seek them in the future. In trying to answer the question, we have had to consider which countries possessed or tried to obtain nuclear weapons in the past. Our findings about both current and historical nuclear weapons programs are outlined on an interactive world map, and summarized in a companion table.

Iraq’s nuclear weapons program started in the early 1970s and is now ended.  This program was effectively halted in 1991 by UN Security Council mandated inspections, before Iraq was able to build a nuclear weapon.  Inspections were ended in late 1998 when Saddam Hussein ceased cooperation with inspectors.  Saddam Hussein’s regime was removed from power in 2003, and no evidence of ongoing nuclear weapons programs has been found as of October 2004.

Learn more by reading the ISIS Reports on Iraq here.