IRAN
Obama orders new sanctions on Iran’s currency, auto sector, upping pressure over nuke program
The Associated Press — June 3, 2013
Turning the screw on Iran and its nuclear program, the Obama administration imposed new sanctions Monday on Iran’s currency and auto industry, seeking to render Iranian money useless outside the country and to cut off the regime from critical revenue sources.
China and Russia set to press Iran on nuclear issue: diplomats
Reuters — June 4, 2013
China and Russia are set to join four Western powers in voicing deep concern about Iran’s atomic activities this week and pressing it to cooperate with a stalled inquiry by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, diplomats said on Tuesday.
Nuclear Traces at Iranian Complex May Never Be Found, UN Says
Jonathan Tirone, Bloomberg News — June 3, 2013
United Nations nuclear investigators may never find evidence that Iran conducted atomic-weapons experiments a decade ago after the Persian Gulf nation altered the terrain around a military building housing the alleged work.
NORTH KOREA
Exclusive: China tried to convince North Korea to give up nuclear tests – source
Benjamin Kang Lim, Reuters — June 4, 2013
China told an envoy of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that Pyongyang should stop conducting nuclear and missile tests, but the North showed little sign of heeding the request, said a source with knowledge of the talks held late last month.
US institute says NKorea could be 1 or 2 months away from restarting nuclear reactor
The Associated Press — June 3, 2013
North Korea may be just one to two months away from following through on its threat to restart a plutonium reactor that can produce fissile material for nuclear bombs, a U.S. research institute said Monday.
But the North’s ability to put the five megawatt reactor back to work will depend on the availability of fresh fuel rods to power it, and that remains uncertain.
DEFENSE AND NUCLEAR SPENDING
White House promises veto of GOP spending plan boosting defense, cutting domestic programs
Andrew Taylor, The Associated Press — June 3, 2013
The White House stepped in Monday with a veto threat against a House GOP plan to advance a round of 2014 spending bills that would ease sequester-imposed cuts on the Pentagon while forcing even deeper cuts on non-defense programs
Draft Bill Endorses Cut to U.S. Nonproliferation Funds; Seeks Nuclear Weapons Boost
Douglas P. Guarino, Global Security Newswire — June 3, 2013
The Republican leadership of the House Armed Services Committee is endorsing the Obama administration’s plan to cut funding for nonproliferation programs in the next budget, but is recommending that even more money be spent on nuclear weapons operations.
Layoff notices coming for MOX workers
Rob Pavey, The Augusta Chronicle — June 3, 2013
Employees for Savannah River Site’s beleaguered mixed oxide facility could begin receiving layoff notices this week because of federal budget cuts and a possible change in direction for the government’s plutonium disposition project.
MISSILE DEFENSE
Opinion: An Unnecessary Military Expense
Editorial Board, The New York Times — June 3, 2013
At a time when the United States government is under pressure to cut spending, and every dollar counts, some members of Congress are pushing for a new missile defense site, possibly on the East Coast, that could eventually cost at least $3.6 billion. The proposal is premature at best and could actually harm America’s national security by denying resources to other more urgently needed and more effective defense programs.
