Supporters of a worldwide agreement prohibiting nuclear tests announced plans on Tuesday to use US President Barack Obama's efforts towards disarmament to advance their cause at the United Nations this month. Obama has expressed backing for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), but the treaty has not been ratified by nine countries, including the US, that have significant nuclear programs. Morocco's ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Omar Zniber, stated that now is the time to strengthen the non-proliferation regime. Morocco and France are working together to persuade nuclear states like India, Pakistan, and North Korea to sign the treaty. Other countries that have not yet ratified include Egypt, Iran, and Israel. High-ranking officials from countries in the CTBT and the UN Security Council will gather at the United Nations in New York on September 24-25 to discuss the treaty. This will be the first time in ten years that the United States will participate in these discussions. George W. Bush, the previous president, did not prioritize nuclear diplomacy and arms control, leading to the US Senate's failure to ratify the treaty in 1999 during the Clinton administration. At that time, US politicians argued that there was no reliable way to confirm compliance with the treaty. However, supporters of the CTBT believe that verification technology has significantly improved since then. Obama has pledged to make renewed efforts to obtain Senate ratification. His administration, along with Russia, has emphasized the importance of eliminating nuclear arsenals worldwide, starting with their own countries. The upcoming UN talks will coincide with a special Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, which will be led by Obama. Tibor Toth, the executive secretary of the CTBT implementing agency, stated that while the US and Russia's commitment to gradual disarmament is significant, achieving a global test ban treaty is also feasible given the current diplomatic environment. He believes that there is renewed support for multilateralism and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, and that there should be tangible results from these efforts. "This treaty is the one that most closely achieves something significant." Approximately 180 countries have agreed to the treaty, while about 150 have officially approved it. However, the treaty cannot be enforced until all nine nuclear-armed states sign and ratify it. Supporters believe that if the United States joins, it will encourage other countries to do the same.