Iran
IAEA, Iran to hold nuclear talks on June 8
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – June 4, 2012
The U.N. atomic watchdog and Iran will hold a new round of talks this week to try to reach an agreement to resume a long-stalled investigation into suspected nuclear weapons research in the Islamic Republic, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said on Monday.
IAEA chief says Iran may have cleaned site of nuclear weapons test
Carol J. Williams, Los Angeles Times – June 4, 2012
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said publicly for the first time Monday that the U.N. agency suspects Iran has been cleaning away traces of a 2003 nuclear weapons test ahead of possible inspections of the military facility south of Tehran.
Putin, Ahmadinejad to meet before nuclear talks
CNN – June 3, 2012
Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in China next week before international talks are held on Iran’s nuclear program in Moscow, Russia’s state-run RIA-Novosti news agency reported Sunday. The meeting is aimed at allowing Putin to “feel the heat surrounding the Iranian problem and see how this issue is perceived in Tehran,” Yuri Ushakov, a former U.S. ambassador who now serves as a Russian foreign policy adviser, told the news agency.
Iran threatens to target US bases if attacked
Marcus George, Reuters – June 2, 2012
Iran has warned the United States not to resort to military action against it, saying U.S. bases in the region were vulnerable to the Islamic Republic’s missiles, state media reported on Saturday. The comments by a senior Iranian military commander were an apparent response to U.S. officials who have said Washington was ready to use military force to stop what it suspects is Iran’s goal to develop a nuclear weapons capability.
Cyber-attacks “bought us time” on Iran: U.S. sources
Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters – June 2, 2012
The United States under former President George W. Bush began building a complex cyber-weapon to try to prevent Tehran from completing suspected nuclear weapons work without resorting to risky military strikes against Iranian facilities, current and former U.S. officials familiar with the program said. Barack Obama accelerated the efforts after succeeding Bush in 2009, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the classified nature of the effort. The weapon, called Stuxnet, was eventually used against Iran’s main uranium enrichment facilities.
Nonproliferation
Myanmar abandons nuclear research: defense minister
John O’Callaghan, Reuters – June 2, 2012
Myanmar has abandoned research on a nuclear program that never progressed very far, and has stepped back from close military and political ties with North Korea, the Southeast Asian country’s defense minister said on Saturday.
Weapons Systems
U.S. Air Force Approves Concept for Future ICBM, Eyes Navy Collaboration
Elaine M. Grossman, National Journal – June 1, 2012
A senior-level U.S. Air Force panel has approved a document that formally articulates the need for a new ground-based missile system to replace today’s nuclear-armed Minuteman 3 arsenal.
