The IAEA and nuclearized nations have a hard time convincing Iran and NKorea not to develop nuclear weapons. This causes major diplomatic conflicts and overall instability for the rest of the world.Frank Herbert proposes, in its novel Dune, a Great Convention, based on the fact that all groups possess weapons of mass destruction and thus the ability to annihilate any enemy. The Convention states that any group proved to have used atomics would be destroyed by the others as retaliation.This looks fair. Anyone would be free to have nukes if they can, enabling the use of civil nuclear power as well, but would never use its wapons without being totally destroyed.
One nation would never be able to destroy another completely, since the defeated, who would have nothing left to loose, could at the last moment launch its WMP.
Terrorist groups, who have nothing to loose anyway, could still use it, but it is highly improbable any small group can develop such technology.
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History has indicated that nations are not sufficiently rational to possess absolute power, especially when a significant sector believes in an afterlife.
I don't think this would work. If the United Kingdom used a nuclear weapon against an enemy of the US, would the US help to destroy the UK? I seriously doubt it. The same would be true if the situation was reversed. If Russia nuked Chechnya, would North Korea attack Russia? In that case, the N Koreans would no doubt realize that if Russia counter-attacks them, they will be destroyed more thoroughly than Russia. It would be terribly risky for them to get involved. The US has enough nukes to decimate most of the other nuclear countries singlehandedly. Would any of the smaller nations risk launching on the US? If a country violates the convention and a second country attacks them with nukes (to comply with the convention), is everyone suppose to destroy the second country also? After all, they used nukes, which is a violation of the convention. Or is it OK to use nukes in some situations? Loopholes open the door to all kinds of cheating opportunities.
Bottom line: I think politics and practical considerations would make this unworkable.