Iran
Turkey hosts Iran nuclear talks
AP – July 3, 2012
Technical experts are in Turkey for discussions on Iran’s nuclear program that aim to see whether there is enough common ground to return to full-fledged talks.
Iran Takes Defiant Steps Over New Sanctions
Rick Gladstone, New York Times – July 2, 2012
Iran took defiant steps on Monday in response to the intensified Western sanctions aimed at stifling its oil exports, announcing legislation intended to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital Persian Gulf shipping lane, and testing missiles in a desert drill clearly intended as a warning to Israel and the United States.
U.S. Adds Forces in Persian Gulf, a Signal to Iran
Thom Shanker, Eric Schmitt and David E. Sanger, New York Times – July 3, 2012
The United States has quietly moved significant military reinforcements into the Persian Gulf to deter the Iranian military from any possible attempt to shut the Strait of Hormuz and to increase the number of fighter jets capable of striking deep into Iran if the standoff over its nuclear program escalates.
A breakdown in Iran nuclear talks appears likely
David Ignatius, Washington Post – July 2, 2012
Examining the negotiating proposal Iran made to the “P5 + 1” group last month, you can see areas where the two sides might eventually agree — but also a gap in current positions that’s so wide the most likely outcome is that the talks will collapse after a scheduled experts’ meeting this week.
Afghanistan
New ‘green-on-blue’ attack in Afghanistan kills 3 British troops
LA Times – July 2, 2012
Generating new anxieties about a key pillar of the Western exit strategy, an elite Afghan policeman opened fire on British troops, killing three of them, officials said Monday. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
Russia
Russian official: Romney’s hard line could bring ‘full-scale crisis’
Paul Richter, LA Times – July 2, 2012
Mitt Romney’s comment that Russia is America’s “No. 1 geopolitical foe,” a red-meat line for Republicans, is also attracting some attention in Moscow.
Nuclear Weapons
AP sources: Obama edges toward decision on plan that could mean large new cuts in nuclear arms
Robert Burns, AP – July 3, 2012
The Obama administration is moving toward decisions that would further cut the number of U.S. nuclear weapons, possibly to between 1,000 and 1,100, reflecting new thinking on the role of nuclear weapons in an age of terror, current and former officials say.
