Although the  Iranian Parliament voted on 4 Jan to postpone for six months any discussion of joining the preparatory commission for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Iran signed the CTBT in 1996 but has never ratified it. Pakistani Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar said on 4 Jan that the military government was in no hurry to sign the CTBT, despite reports that India is likely to do so within three months. The treaty is strongly opposed by the religious parties, which feel it would weaken the country against its main enemy (India). The military government has said that it will wait until there is a consensus of the public supporting the treaty before signing it.--Stephen V Cole