IRAN
Iran move to speed up nuclear program troubles West
Fredrik Dahl, Reuters – Feb 21, 2013
Iran has begun installing advanced centrifuges at its main uranium enrichment plant, the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Thursday, a defiant step that will worry Western powers ahead of a resumption of talks with Tehran next week. In a confidential report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said 180 so-called IR-2m centrifuges and empty centrifuge casings had been put in place at the facility near the town of Natanz in central Iran. They were not yet operating.
NORTH KOREA
Russia, China oppose military intervention in North Korea
Reuters – Feb 22, 2013
Russia and China said on Friday they would oppose any foreign military intervention in North Korea over its recent nuclear test. The two countries’ foreign ministers condemned last week’s test but said any action against North Korea had to be agreed at the United Nations, where Russia and China have the right of veto as permanent members of the Security Council.
N. Korean nuke test key agenda for U.S.-Japan summit: White House
Yonhap News Agency – Feb 21, 2013
IRAN
Priorities for Arms Control Negotiations Post-New START
Transcript of remarks made by Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security, at the Exchange Monitor’s Fifth Annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit in Arlington, VA. Focus is on U.S. nuclear posture strategy following New-START, with topics including negotiation of future reductions with Russia and multilaterally and negotiating a fissile material cutoff treaty.
OPINION
The case for the test-ban treaty is stronger than ever
Thomas R. Pickering, GulfNews – Feb 22, 2013
Now is the right time for the White House to launch a high-level push for acknowledging the treaty and for the Senate to join in closing the door on nuclear experiments
Iran’s nuclear ambitions are still uncertain
David Blair, The Telegraph – Feb 22, 2013
What safe conclusions can be drawn from the latest report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s nuclear program?
