IRAN
Iran’s new president takes oath of office, asks West to abandon ‘language of sanctions’
The Associated Press — August 4, 2013
Iran’s new president on Sunday called on the West to abandon the “language of sanctions” in dealing with the Islamic Republic over its contentious nuclear program, hoping to ease the economic pressures now grinding its people.
White House to Iran president: Resolve nuclear dispute
David Jackson, USA Today — August 4, 2013
The Obama administration says Sunday’s inauguration of a new president in Iran offers a new chance to settle an ongoing nuclear dispute.
Iran’s President Puts New Focus on the Economy
Thomas Erdbrink, The New York Times — August 3, 2013
Iran’s new president, Hassan Rouhani, vowed Saturday to work with the outside world to lift the “oppressive sanctions” crippling the Iranian economy, as he received the official backing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a ceremony marking the start of his presidential term.
Iran Seen Trying New Path to a Bomb
Jay Solomon, The Wall Street Journal — August 5, 2013
Iran could begin producing weapons-grade plutonium by next summer, U.S. and European officials believe, using a different nuclear technology that would be easier for foreign countries to attack.
Op-Ed: A Better Welcome for Iran’s New President
Bloomberg Editorial Board, Bloomberg News — August 4, 2013
The U.S. House of Representatives has a peculiar way of welcoming Iran’s new president. Just days before today’s inauguration of Hassan Rohani, who has vowed to improve relations with the outside world and bring transparency to Iran’s nuclear program, the House approved legislation that would impose the harshest sanctions to date on Iran…the vote weakens the hand of President Barack Obama as he tries to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons — preferably without resorting to war.
NORTH KOREA
Nuclear envoys of China, Japan hold talks on N. Korea
Yonhap News Agency — August 5, 2013
Top nuclear envoys from China and Japan held talks on Monday to coordinate their policies on ending North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, a senior South Korean diplomat said.
S. Korea losing patience with North on Kaesong talks
AFP — August 4, 2013
South Korea on Sunday warned the North it was “reaching the limit” of its patience over stalled talks to revive a joint industrial complex once seen as a rare symbol of cooperation between the rivals.
NUCLEAR SPENDING
U.S. House Move to Freeze New START Nuke Reductions Under Contention
Diane Barnes, Global Security Newswire — August 2, 2013
U.S. House lawmakers voted last week to prevent the United States from scaling down its fielded strategic nuclear arsenal to meet the terms of a 2-year-old treaty with Russia, citing a failure by Obama officials to provide specifics required by February 2012 on how they would carry out the cuts.
NUCLEAR SECURITY
Mock Terrorists Reach Nuclear Bomb Material in U.S. Facility Drill
Global Security Newswire — August 2, 2013
Energy Department personnel pretending to be terrorists reached a substance representing nuclear-weapon fuel after they fought through defenses in a January exercise at the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, the Project on Government Oversight reported last week.
