IRAN
U.S. House passes Iran sanctions bill to slash oil exports
Timothy Gardner, Reuters — August 1, 2013
The House of Representatives easily passed a bill on Wednesday to tighten sanctions on Iran, showing a strong message to Tehran over its disputed nuclear program days before President-elect Hassan Rouhani is sworn in.
Iran: Proposed new US sanctions blow to nuke talks
The Associated Press — August 1, 2013
Iran’s foreign ministry says possible new U.S. sanctions will not change Tehran’s nuclear policy, but could complicate talks with world powers…Iranian state TV quotes Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araghchi as saying sanctions will not stop the country’s nuclear advance.
Russia says new Iran sanctions will not end nuclear dispute
Alissa de Carbonnel and Timothy Heritage, Reuters — August 1, 2013
Russia said on Thursday a vote by the U.S. House of Representatives to tighten sanctions against Iran would not help resolve the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Could the House’s New Iran Sanctions Actually Help Forge a Nuclear Deal?
John Hudson, Foreign Policy — July 31, 2013
To the dismay of liberal Democrats, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a new round of sanctions against Iran on Wednesday just as newly-elected President Hassan Rouhani prepares to take office…But Omid Memarian, an Iranian analyst who has interviewed a number of officials in Rouhani’s inner-circle, tells The Cable that the sanctions could have a counterintuitive effect.
Hopes ride on Iran’s Rouhani, but huge task ahead
Jon Hemming, Reuters — August 1, 2013
A wave of optimism has swept Iran since Hassan Rouhani was elected president last month, but as he takes office on Sunday the moderate cleric has a monumental task to resolve the nuclear dispute, ease stringent sanctions and revive a failing economy.
NORTH KOREA
Panama Finds Possible Missile Control Vehicles in N. Korean Freighter
Global Security Newswire — July 31, 2013
Panamanian authorities have uncovered five vehicles that might feature missile control systems in the hold of the North Korean cargo ship that was interdicted earlier this month as it tried to pass through the Panama Canal, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
Still no North Korean response to Seoul’s offer for Kaesong talks
Gil Yun-hyung, The Hankyoreh — August 1, 2013
July 31 marked the third straight day without a response from North Korea to a proposal from Seoul to resume working-level talks to normalize operations at the Kaesong Industrial Complex…Some observers are expressing concern that inter-Korean relations may be settling in once again for a long-term chill, but others are taking a different view.
DEFENSE SPENDING
Hagel: Looming budget cuts will hit military hard
The Associated Press, CBS News — July 31, 2013
…Speaking to Pentagon reporters, and indirectly to Congress, Hagel said that the full result of the sweeping budget cuts over the next 10 years could leave the nation with an ill-prepared, under-equipped military doomed to face more technologically advanced enemies.
Branches of Military Battle Over Shrinking War Chest
Julian E. Barnes, The Wall Street Journal — July 31, 2013
Fights between branches of the U.S. military have erupted over responsibility for everything from drones to clocks as America’s armed forces battle to keep their share of a shrinking defense budget…The emerging debate is expected to be the most intense in two decades as the branches of the military seek to retool their missions to match the needs of future conflicts.
MISSILE DEFENSE
Raytheon to Get $403 Million for Missile Defense Work
Rich Smith, The Motley Fool — July 31, 2013
The U.S. Department of Defense awarded 19 contracts on Wednesday, worth $3.3 billion in aggregate. One of the largest awards went to Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon…For this work, Raytheon will be paid $402.9 million.
