Interim Agreement Between the USA and the USSR on Certain Measures with
Respect to the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms



May 26, 1972 (with Protocol)
The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter referred to as the
Parties,
Convinced that the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems I and this Interim
Agreement on Certain Measures with Respect to the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms will
contribute to the creation of more favorable conditions for active negotiations on limiting strategic arms
as well as to the relaxation of international tension and the strengthening of trust between States,
Taking into account the relationship between strategic offensive and defensive arms,
Mindful of their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,
Have agreed as follows:
Article I
The Parties undertake not to start construction of additional fixed land-based intercontinental ballistic
missile (ICBM) launchers after July 1, 1972.
Article II
The Parties undertake not to convert land-based launchers for light ICBM's, or for ICBM's of older types
deployed prior to 1964, into land-based launchers for heavy ICBM's of types deployed after that time.
Article III
The Parties undertake to limit submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) launchers and modern
ballistic missile submarines to the numbers operational and under construction on the date of signature
of this Interim Agreement, and in addition to launchers and submarines constructed under procedures
established by the Parties as replacements for an equal number of ICBM launchers of older types
deployed prior to 1964 or for launchers on older submarines.
Article IV
Subject to the provisions of this Interim Agreement, modernization and replacement of strategic
offensive ballistic missiles and launchers covered by this Interim Agreement may be undertaken.
Article V
1. For the purpose of providing assurance of compliance with the provisions of this Interim Agreement,
each Party shall use national technical means of verification at its disposal in a manner consistent with
generally recognized principles of international law.
2. Each Party undertakes not to interfere with the national technical means of verification of the other
Party operating in accordance with paragraph I of this Article.
3. Each Party undertakes not to use deliberate concealment measures which impede verification by
national technical means of compliance with the provisions of this Interim Agreement. This obligation
shall not require changes in current construction, assembly, conversion, or overhaul practices.
Article VI
To promote the objectives and implementation of the provisions of this Interim Agreement, the Parties
shall use the Standing Consultative Commission established under Article XIII of the Treaty on the
Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems in accordance with the provisions of that Article.
Article VII
The Parties undertake to continue active negotiations for limitations on strategic offensive arms. The
obligations provided for in this Interim Agreement shall not prejudice the scope or terms of the limitations
on strategic offensive arms which may be worked out in the course of further negotiations.
Article VIII
1. This Interim Agreement shall enter into foree3 Upon exchange of written notices of acceptance by
each Party, which exchange shall take place simultaneously with the exchange of instruments of
ratification of the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems.
2. This Interim Agreement shall remain in force for a period of five years unless replaced earlier by an
agreement on more complete measures limiting strategic offensive arms. It is the objective of the Parties
to conduct active follow-on negotiations with the aim of concluding such an agreement as soon as
possible.
3. Each Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Interim
Agreement if it decides that extraordinary events related to the subject matter of this Interim Agreement
have jeopardized its supreme interests. It shall give notice of its decision to the other Party six months
prior to withdrawal from this Interim Agreement. Such notice shall include a statement of the
extraordinary events the notifying Party regards as having jeopardized its supreme interests.
Done at Moscow on May 26, 1972, in two copies, each in the English and Russian languages, both texts
being equally authentic.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
President of the United States of America
FOR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS:
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU
Protocol
To the Interim Agreement Between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics on Certain Measures with Respect to the Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms
The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter referred to as the
Parties,
Having agreed on certain limitations relating to submarine-launched ballistic missile launchers and
modern ballistic missile submarines, and to replacement procedures, in the Interim Agreement,
Have agreed as follows:
The Parties understand that, under Article III of the Interim Agreement, for the period during which that
Agreement remains in force:
The US may have no more than 710 ballistic missile launchers on sub-marines (SLBM's) and no more
than 44 modern ballistic missile submarines. The Soviet Union may have no more than 950 ballistic
missile launchers on submarines and no more than 62 modern ballistic missile submarines.
Additional ballistic missile launchers on submarines up to the above-mentioned levels, in the U.S. - over
656 ballistic missile launchers on nuclear-powered submarines, and in the U.S.S.R. - over 740 ballistic
missile launchers on nuclear-powered submarines, operational and under construction, may become
operational as replacements for equal numbers of ballistic missile launchers of older types deployed
prior to 1964 or of ballistic missile launchers on older submarines.
The deployment of modern SLBM's on any submarine, regardless of type, will be counted against the
total level of SLBM's permitted for the U.S. and the
U.S.S.R.
This Protocol shall be considered an integral part of the Interim Agreement.
Done at Moscow this 26th day of May, 1972.
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
President of the United States of America
FOR THE UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS:
General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU