Waste Crimes in Iran and the United States of America: Smuggling and Illegal Disposal of Nuclear Wastes

Waste crime is a new title in the literature on criminal law, which has a significant part of environmental crimes. In this context, smuggling and illicit disposal of nuclear waste are among the most important aspects of waste crime. In fact, the radiation power of nuclear waste and its environmental impact have made it necessary to combat smuggling and illicit disposal of nuclear waste. In this regard, combating against the aforementioned acts require that the legislative system organizes in a proportionate manner. On this basis, it is appropriate to establish clear and transparent rules for the export, import and disposal of nuclear waste and criminalizing each of these acts of smuggling and the illegal disposal of nuclear waste with the creating of proportionate punishments. Therefore, by studying the Iranian and federal legislation of the United States, it was discovered that Iranian legislator, in addition to not creating an updated and integrated regulation on nuclear waste management, has not yet to make appropriate criminal responses to the illegal disposal of the wastes. On the other hand, the federal legislator of the United States has adopted an appropriate approach to both nuclear waste management and the smuggling and illegal disposal of them. In the meantime, during this paper, it attempts to study the criminal law of Iran and the United States about the smuggling and illicit disposal of nuclear waste.