Iran
Senior General: U.S. Atomic Arsenal Could Deter a Nuclear-Armed Iran
Elaine Grossman, Global Security Newswire – July 12, 2012
The top U.S. military commander for strategic combat on Thursday said Washington’s atomic weapons could serve as the ultimate tool for deterring a nuclear-armed Iran (see GSN, June 21). Asked at a public event whether the U.S. nuclear umbrella would be extended to non-nuclear Persian Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates in the event that Iran moves to build its own atomic bomb, Gen. Robert Kehler cited Washington’s roughly 2,150 deployed warheads as one of several means to ensure that Tehran does not threaten its regional neighbors.
Frustrated by Iran talks, Congress presses for harsher sanctions
Joby Warrick and Jason Rezaian, Washington Post – July 12, 2012
Congress is moving to dramatically tighten economic sanctions against Iran as lawmakers from both major parties express impatience over U.S. efforts to halt the expansion of Iran’s nuclear program. House and Senate officials began crafting legislation this week that congressional leaders say will deepen the pain for Iran across multiple fronts, making it even harder for Iranian businesses to buy insurance, obtain foreign financing and export goods. The proposals, some of which could carry financial risks for U.S. allies as well, have attracted scores of Republican and Democratic sponsors, who say they will push for passage before the August recess.
British Spymaster Says Iran Is 2 Years From Nuclear Bomb Capability
Alan Cowell, New York Times – July 12, 2012
In an unusually public forum, the head of Britain’s foreign intelligence agency, MI6, has forecast that Iran would likely achieve a nuclear weapons capability within two years, a British newspaper reported Friday. The newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, quoted Sir John Sawers, once the ranking British diplomat on the Iranian nuclear issue and now head of the Secret Intelligence Service, as making the disclosure last week to a gathering of around 100 high-ranking civil servants.
Despite sanctions, Apple gear booms in Iran
Marcus George, Reuters – July 12, 2012
Iran’s booming Apple business underscores the limitations of economic sanctions by the United States and other countries. Washington and its allies have imposed sanctions in an attempt to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran maintains is peaceful. U.S. companies are barred from selling any goods or services to Iran unless they obtain special authorization.
United Kingdom
Lack of security planning criticised
Michael Settle, The Herald (Scotland) – July 12, 2012
THE Coalition Government was yesterday criticised again for failing to consider the security implications for the UK of Scotland becoming independent. In March, Westminster’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy expressed unhappiness at the UK Government’s lack of “horizon-scanning” in relation not only to the possibility of Scottish independence within the next three years but also to the prospect of a collapse of the eurozone. Labour’s Lord Foulkes, who sits on the committee, said at the time he was “astonished” by the lack of the Coalition’s contingency planning, particularly as Scotland was home to Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
