Our Mission
Preventing the spread of WMD, delivery systems, and advanced conventional weapons capabilities — and rolling back such proliferation where it has already taken root — is the mission of the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN). In close collaboration with other bureaus within the State Department, other U.S. agencies, and a diverse range of international and non-governmental partners, ISN tracks, develops, and implements effective responses to proliferation threats and shapes the international security environment to prevent their recurrence.
Key Topics
- Biological Weapons Convention
- Nonproliferation Sanctions
- Biological Weapons Convention
- CAATSA
- The International Atomic Energy Agency
Biological Weapons Convention
The United States is a Depositary Government for the Biological Weapons and Toxin Convention (BWC), which bans the development, production and stockpiling of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction. States Parties work to strengthen the Convention at annual Meeting of Experts and Meetings of States Parties, as well as review conferences taking place every five years. These meetings address all aspects of the Convention, including international cooperation and assistance in areas like disease surveillance capacity-building; developments in science and technology and the responsible conduct of the life sciences; national implementation of the Convention in laws and regulations; preparedness and response to suspicious outbreaks of infectious disease; and the institutional strengthening of the BWC.
Read More Biological Weapons ConventionNonproliferation Sanctions
The United States imposes sanctions under various legal authorities against foreign individuals, private entities, and governments that engage in proliferation activities, including Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
Read More Nonproliferation SanctionsBiological Weapons Convention
The United States is a Depositary Government for the Biological Weapons and Toxin Convention (BWC), which bans the development, production and stockpiling of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
Read More Biological Weapons ConventionCAATSA
Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (“CAATSA,” or “the Act”) (Pub. L. 115-44,) was enacted on August 2, 2017. The President delegated to the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, the authority to implement Section 231 on September 29, 2017.
Read More CAATSAThe International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) advances critical U.S. interests related to preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, strengthening global nuclear safety and security, and promoting the peaceful applications of nuclear energy, science, and technology.
Read More The International Atomic Energy AgencyOffices
- Office of Congressional and Public Affairs
- Office of Conventional Arms Threat Reduction
- Office of Cooperative Threat Reduction
- Office of Counterproliferation Initiatives
- Office of Export Control Cooperation
- Office of Missile, Biological, and Chemical Nonproliferation
- Office of Multilateral Nuclear and Security Affairs
- Office of Nuclear Energy, Safety, and Security
- Office of Regional Affairs
- Office of the Biological Policy Staff
- Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund
- Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism