Most expect conditions to be attached to the treaty's indefinite extension, however, in deference to the concerns of the countries without nuclear arms.
The indefinite extension of the nonproliferation treaty last month is one very important way the international community can protect itself against this new threat.
The treaty to limit the number of countries with nuclear weapons is up for indefinite extension in April.
One document provides for the indefinite extension of the treaty, but without using the term "consensus."
Today it appeared that Iran might be moving away from this position supporting indefinite extension.
However, eventually pressure from Washington and other nations led to Japan's supporting the indefinite extension.
Just before the old three-year agreement expired Sept. 30, the two sides agreed to an indefinite extension.
But Japan has indicated that it could not yet support the indefinite extension of the treaty, which expires in 1995.
In the world of books, the indefinite extension of copyright has had a perverse effect.
There are also potentially desirable limits to the indefinite extension of political democracy.