IRAN
Ahmadinejad’s Fall, America’s Loss
Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh, New York Times- June 15, 2011
The Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is being sidelined by religious fundamentalists, and it’s bad news for American officials seeking to halt Iran’s nuclear program. The same Iranian leader who dabbled in Holocaust denial and messianic fantasies was, paradoxically, also the theocracy’s most ardent advocate of direct nuclear negotiations with Washington. As Mr. Ahmadinejad falls out of favor with Iran’s hard-line religious leaders, the prospect of a nuclear deal between Tehran and Washington is diminishing.
Iran To Step Up Uranium Enrichment
Voice of America- June 15, 2011
Despite multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions calling on Iran to stop enriching uranium, the Iranian government has announced plans to triple its capacity to enrich uranium to 20 percent.
Iran Postulates First Nuclear Test
Jamsheed K. Choksy, Forbes- June 14, 2011
Media outlets and blogs in Israel, England, and the U.S. have responded with considerable incredulity to claims by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of sanguine reactions if Iran tests an atom bomb. The IRGC’s scenario underscores an unfortunate reality, however.
Nuclear Proliferation: Engaging Iran
Richard Dalton, Steen Hohwii-Christensen, Paul con Maltzahn, Guillaume Metten, Francois Nicoullaud, and Roberto Toscano, LA Times- June 9, 2011
As ambassadors to Iran during the last decade, we have all followed closely the development of the nuclear crisis between Iran and the international community. It is unacceptable that the talks have been deadlocked for such a long time.
NORTH KOREA
US satellite images capture new buildings at North Korea nuclear plant
Julian Ryall, Telegraph- June 14, 2011
The discovery of the new buildings has sparked concern that they may be part of a drive by Pyongyang to fabricate fuel for nuclear reactors or to enrich uranium.
North Korea likely can miniaturize nuclear device: Seoul
Jack Kim, Reuters- June 13, 2011
North Korea has probably succeeded in miniaturizing a nuclear device, South Korea’s defense minister said on Monday, an advance that would in theory allow the hermit state to place an atomic warhead on a rocket.
UNITED STATES
Nuclear Bomb Refurbishment May Alarm Russia, Imperil Obama Plan
Viola Gienger, Bloomberg- June 16, 2011
A U.S. Air Force plan to refurbish aging nuclear bombs deployed in five European countries would increase the weapon’s power and accuracy and risks re-igniting tensions with Russia, an arms control group says.
House panel whacks funding for nuclear complex
Walter Pincus, Washington Post- June 16, 2011
Led by Republicans, lawmakers are cutting into the funds that the Obama administration had pledged for upgrades and modernization.
MISSILE DEFENSE
Czechs, Disliking Role, Pull Out of U.S. Missile Defense Project
Judy Dempsey and Dan Bilefsky, New York Times- June 15, 2011
The Czech Republic announced Wednesday that it was withdrawing from plans to participate in the United States missile defense program out of frustration at its diminished role in the system, which was conceived as a deterrent against a potential threat from Iran.
COMPREHENSIVE TEST BAN TREATY
Ghana ratifies comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty
Afrique en ligne- June 16, 2011
(PANA) On Wednesday, Ghana became the 154th nation to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, the Vienna-based Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) said.
