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
- CAATSA
- The International Atomic Energy Agency
Biological Weapons Convention
The United States is a Depositary Government for the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC), which effectively bans the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of an entire category of weapons of mass destruction.
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 SanctionsCAATSA
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 Policy Coordination
- Office of The Biological Policy Staff
- Office of the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund
- Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism