On the one hand, Syria was not obliged to destroy its chemical arsenals, simply because several other countries in that region, Israel in particular, are not members of other nonproliferation agreements. Israel has nuclear weapons. But it would be fair to say that Syria’s chemical weapons are not an effective deterrent against Israel. It makes no military sense for the Syrian regime to have chemical weapons. In actual fact, these weapons constitute a risk, rather than strengthen Syria’s security.

But the situation is being made even worse by some informal agreements that may have been reached between these monarchies and Israel. These countries are trying to stymie Iran’s plans. Their goal is to take Syria, which has been a staunch ally of Iran under Assad, out of the game under any pretext

Chronologically the most recent destruction of WMD took place in Kazakhstan, Belarus and Ukraine. But that was taking place soon after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Thank God, this was carried out in peaceful conditions and with international support.

Chemical weapons are not normally moved from the country and are disposed on-site during several years. If due to the urgency of task we imply the physical transportation, the operation becomes unprecedented. The most ambitious project up to date, on the experience of which we can rely, was the withdrawal of Soviet nuclear weapons from Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine to Russia.