ICAN Raises Alarm on Nuclear Threats Amid Hiroshima Commemoration
On August 6, 2025, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) issued a stark warning regarding the heightened risk of nuclear weapon usage, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, reports 24brussels.
The organization’s executive director, Melissa Parke, emphasized, “The risk of the use of nuclear weapons is higher now than ever. We are facing a series of confrontations and conflicts involving nuclear-armed states.” This statement reflects growing concerns amidst rising tensions within global geopolitics.
ICAN, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017, highlighted particular anxiety over remarks suggesting the tactical use of nuclear arms. Parke articulated the importance of recognizing the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as initial tactical nuclear attacks, stating, “We must remember that the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki would today be described as tactical nuclear weapons.”
Parke delivered her remarks shortly after a solemn ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, which took place at the precise moment the ‘Little Boy’ bomb was detonated over the city.
Reflecting on the historical implications, Parke noted, “It has been 80 years since the United States invented and used a nuclear weapon. These weapons have killed and injured hundreds of thousands of people and caused tremendous intergenerational and environmental damage.”
As part of the commemorative activities, ICAN urged for the abolition of all nuclear weapons, arguing against the notion of nuclear deterrence as a legitimate means of international security. Parke stated that Hiroshima’s legacy represents “80 years of catastrophic, widespread, and ongoing harm.”
The United States executed the first-ever nuclear attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, followed by a second bombing in Nagasaki three days later, catalyzing Japan’s surrender and signaling the end of World War II. It is estimated that around 210,000 lives were lost as a result of these bombings, while over 150,000 individuals sustained injuries, with lasting humanitarian and environmental repercussions.
As the world reflects on this tragic history, the advocacy for nuclear disarmament remains more critical than ever, spotlighting the urgent need for global cooperation to prevent such devastation from occurring again.
