Supporters of a worldwide agreement to ban nuclear tests announced on Tuesday that they would use US President Barack Obama's efforts to reduce nuclear weapons as an opportunity to advance their goals at the United Nations this month. Obama has expressed his backing for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), which has not been put into effect because the United States, along with eight other countries with significant nuclear programs, has not ratified it. Morocco's ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Omar Zniber, emphasized the importance of strengthening the non-proliferation regime at a press conference. Morocco and France are working together to encourage nuclear-armed nations like India, Pakistan, and North Korea to sign the treaty, while countries such as Egypt, Iran, and Israel have also yet to ratify it. Senior officials from countries involved 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 such discussions. George W. Bush, the previous president, did not prioritize nuclear diplomacy and arms control, and the US Senate did not ratify the treaty during Bill Clinton's presidency in 1999 due to concerns about verifying compliance. However, advancements in verification technology have been made since then, and President Obama is committed to making new efforts to get the treaty ratified by the Senate. His administration and Russia have emphasized the importance of eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide, starting with their own countries. The UN discussions will coincide with a special Security Council meeting on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament led by Obama. Tibor Toth, executive secretary of the CTBT implementing agency, believes that while the US-Russian commitment to gradual disarmament is significant, a global test ban treaty is also possible in the current diplomatic environment. He stated that there is a renewed support for multilateralism and nuclear non-proliferation efforts, emphasizing the need for tangible results. "This treaty is the most promising in terms of achieving something significant." Approximately 180 countries have agreed to the treaty, with around 150 having officially approved it. However, the treaty cannot be enforced until all nine nuclear-armed countries sign and approve it. Proponents believe that if the United States joins, it will encourage other nations to do the same.