IRAN
Iran votes for new president, Khamenei slams U.S. doubts
Yeganeh Torbati and Zahra Hosseinian, Reuters — June 14, 2013
Millions of Iranians voted to choose a new president on Friday, urged by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to turn out in force to discredit suggestions by arch foe the United States that the election would be a sham.
A Guide to Iran’s Presidential Election
The New York Times — June 13, 2013
The New York Times presents a guide to the candidates running in this year’s Iranian election, what powers the winner of the election will actually have, and how this election will differ from the one in 2009.
The Associated Press — June 14, 2013
The Associated Press presents a guide to the main domestic and international issues facing Iran in its Friday presidential election.
Opinion: Iran’s nuclear ambitions demand urgent reaction from international community
Stephen Hadley, Joseph I. Lieberman, and Jim Steinberg, The New York Times — June 13, 2013
…But given Iran’s accelerating nuclear advances and refusal to engage in meaningful negotiations, the time is fast approaching when diplomacy will be of little or no value or credibility. The United States urgently needs to take several steps that will significantly sharpen the choice faced by Iran’s leaders.
As Sanctions Squeeze, Iranians Keep Improvising
Steve Inskeep, NPR — June 13, 2013
U.S.-led sanctions, aimed at pressuring Iran over its nuclear program, grow tighter and tighter. Oil production is way down. International banking transactions are now much harder…The latest round of sanctions will make it tougher for Iranians to get spare parts even for their European autos.
NORTH KOREA
S. Korea, U.S., Japan set for trilateral talks on N. Korea
Lee Chi-dong, Yonhap News Agency — June 14, 2013
Top South Korean, U.S. and Japanese diplomats handling the North Korea issue plan to meet in Washington next week to assess related situations and discuss future steps, sources here said Thursday.
DEFENSE SPENDING/MISSILE DEFENSE
US Senate Panel Matches Obama Funding Request, Excludes E. Coast Shield
John T. Bennett, Defense News — June 13, 2013
The US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday approved a Pentagon authorization bill that matches the White House’s nearly $527 billion 2014 military budget request…SASC set up a major conference issue by excluding any approval of monies for a House Republican-proposed East Coast missile shield.
GLOBAL ZERO
Stars align for anti-nuke campaign
Caitlin McDevitt, Politico — June 13, 2013
A group of celebrities are calling on President Barack Obama to keep his word on nuclear disarmament.
Actors Michael Douglas, Matt Damon, Naomi Watts, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, Martin Sheen and Alec Baldwin, among others, appear in a new video for Global Zero urging the president to address the issue at next week’s G-8 summit.
