Matthew Levitt argues that Iran has been researching drugs that could be used as disposal chemicals since at least 2005which is a direct violation of international standards. Although national authorities have argued that their PBA development is focused on lawful uses in crowd control, international organizations such as the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have expressed concerns about the dual use of these technologies.
According to the expert, these studies they may also not be limited to military applications, as they have been linked to recent cases of poisoning in schools in Iranwhich raises questions about their possible use in the country. The Combating Terrorism Center quotes here the statements of Iranian journalists who suggested that PBAs may be related to these poisonings, pointing to potential abuses by the government.
Moreover, experts fear that Iran may have already provided PBA to its allied forces, including Hezbollah, which could use the agents to kidnap Israeli soldiers or civilians. The possibility of using PBA in grenades or artillery raises the stakes significantly, as it would allow Hezbollah and other groups to neutralize large numbers of people while limiting physical harm – such tactics could serve to achieve strategic goals while reducing collateral damage.
And it is known that Russia also has no qualms about using chemical weapons and according to Ukrainian radiological, chemical and biological reconnaissance units, 323 “incidents involving ammunition containing chemicals” were recorded in October alone.
Since the start of the invasion, Ukrainian forces have documented a total of 4,613 cases of the use of dangerous chemicals by Russian forces.with their frequency increasing significantly since February 2023. This systematic use of chemical agents poses significant risks to military personnel and reflects a flagrant disregard for established norms of warfare.
Source: geekweek.interia.pl
