Iraq

Country Spotlight

Under Saddam Hussein, Iraq pursued every major category of WMD, but dismantled its programs under UN supervision following defeat in the 1991 Gulf War. Nonetheless, unfounded U.S. and Western suspicions that it was reconstituting its WMD programs led to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and regime change. Today, it does not have WMD programs or ballistic missiles.

See Iraq’s performance in:

Region Middle East and North Africa

16 Known military uses of chemical weapons during Iran-Iraq War

690+ Metric tons of chemical weapons agents destroyed by the UN

12,500 Liters of undeclared biological agents reportedly destroyed

80+ Scud missile attacks against Saudi Arabia and Israel during 1991 Gulf War

Nuclear

Began nuclear weapons development under then-Vice President Saddam Hussein in 1970s
IAEA Director General announced in 2003 no evidence of a reconstituted nuclear weapons program
Announced in 2023 interests in peaceful nuclear power program to diversify energy resources; Iraq and IAEA discussed plans to develop a peaceful nuclear energy program in 2024
Signed a Country Programme Framework (CPF) for 2024-2029 with the IAEA in September 2024

Biological

Produced large quantities of botulinum toxin, anthrax, and aflatoxin during the 1980s and early 1990s
166 R400 bombs and 25 Al Hussein missile warheads were filled with biological agents and deployed but never used
Iraq Survey Group confirmed that Iraq abandoned its biological weapons program in 1991
Submits Confidence Building Measures yearly with the BWC Implementation Support Unit

Missile

Pursued ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles during the 1990s
Concealed majority of ballistic missile program from the UN during 1990s inspections
Subject to missile and rocket strikes on U.S. military bases in Iraq by Iran-backed militias

Chemical

Used mustard gas and tabun against Iranian and Kurdish populations during Iran-Iraq War
Unilaterally declared all chemical weapons disarmament issues resolved in 1998
Various chemical weapons were found on the Iraqi black market after the 2003 Iraq War

Treaties and Regimes Memberships

See all Treaties & Regimes

Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)

The BTWC mandates the elimination of existing biological weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using biological and toxin weapons.

Learn More

Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)

The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) requires countries to destroy all chemical weapons and prohibits developing, stockpiling, or using chemical weapons.

Learn More

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty bans all nuclear explosion tests on Earth. It needs eight key countries to ratify before entry into force.

Learn More

NPT

The NPT is a treaty aimed at limiting the spread of nuclear weapons through the three pillars of non-proliferation, disarmament, and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Learn More

Analysis

on Iraq

2025 Next Generation for Biosecurity Challenge: How Do You Define Bioweapons?

Risky Business Apr 17, 2025

2025 Next Generation for Biosecurity Challenge: How Do You Define Bioweapons?

As the world marks the 50th anniversary of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), Next Gen contest participants have an opportunity to move the needle by introducing an updated way for professionals in the field to address the current and emerging threats that bioweapons pose.

From Risk to Resilience: Imagining a Sustainable Global Nuclear Order