US, Iran Engage in Direct Talks on Nuclear Program in Rome

The United States' approach to nuclear weapons and deterrence has evolved significantly since World War II, with Cold War-era innovations such as nuclear-armed missiles reflecting a period of intense technological and military competition with the USSR. The global nuclear arsenal expanded rapidly in the decades following the war, peaking in the 1980s and fueling concerns about the devastating potential of these weapons. In more recent years, debates have intensified over the effectiveness and morality of nuclear deterrence, with disarmament advocates arguing that any use of nuclear weapons would trigger catastrophic escalation and urging a global ban as supported by the United Nations. Critics of disarmament warn that abandoning deterrence could embolden nuclear-armed adversaries like China and Russia, potentially leaving the United States vulnerable to first strikes without credible means of response. These ongoing debates highlight the complex balance between maintaining security and pursuing disarmament in an era of persistent nuclear threats.