Iraq is believed to have once had extensive chemical, nuclear and biological weapons programmes. But the 1991 Gulf War, subsequent UN inspections, international sanctions and raids by US and British aircraft have seriously degraded its facilities.
Some sites are still thought to be active, but these may only be used for civilian purposes such as the production of medicines, or non-military research.
Some analysts believe Iraq to have significant stocks of biological and chemical agents. But others suggest that even if it has, these are now so old they no longer work, and in any case Iraq lacks effective means of delivery.
A recent report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies concluded that Iraq would require up to a decade and significant help from a foreign power to produce a nuclear bomb.
