Iran
Iran’s newly elected president urges ‘path of moderation’
Associated Press, Washington Post – June 17, 2013
Iran’s newly elected president pledged Monday to follow a “path of moderation” and promised greater openness over the country’s nuclear program, emphasizing messages from Western leaders since his victory that have brought cautious hope of new openings with Tehran.
U.S. Seems Eager for Nuclear Talks With Iran’s New Leader
David E. Sanger, New York Times – June 16, 2013
President Obama’s top foreign policy aides said Sunday that they planned to press Iran’s newly elected president to resume the negotiations over his country’s nuclear program that derailed in the spring.
West to Press Iran on Nukes
Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal – June 16, 2013
The Obama administration and its European allies—surprised and encouraged by Hassan Rohani’s election as Iran’s next president—intend to aggressively push to resume negotiations with Tehran on its nuclear program by August to test his new government’s positions, U.S. and European diplomats say.
North Korea
State news: North Korea proposes high-level talks with U.S.
K.J. Kwon and Greg Botelho, CNN – June 17, 2013
North Korea has proposed high-level talks with the United States to “ease tensions in the Korean Peninsula,” its state news agency reported early Sunday.
US Wants ‘Credible Negotiations’ With North Korea
Associated Press, NPR – June 16, 2013
The Obama administration said Sunday it was receptive to North Korea’s proposal for high-level talks, but wants “credible negotiations” that will lead to a nuclear-free North.
Congress
Key differences in the 2014 defense policy bills
Associated Press, Yahoo! News – June 14, 2014
There are key differences in the sweeping defense policy bills moving through the Republican-led House and the Democratic-run Senate.
Guantanamo
House votes to block Obama plan to close Guantanamo
Patricia Zengerle, Reuters – June 14, 2013
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a massive defense bill on Friday that includes measures to block President Barack Obama’s plans to close the Guantanamo Bay prison, underscoring the tough fight ahead for the White House as it seeks to shutter the controversial detention camp.
Kerry Associate Chosen for Post on Closing Guantánamo Prison
Charlie Savage, New York Times – June 16, 2013
The Obama administration on Monday is expected to name Cliff Sloan, a Washington lawyer and confidant of Secretary of State John Kerry, as the new diplomatic envoy for the shutdown of the military prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, an official said on Sunday.
Russia
Opinion: Why Russia won’t deal on NATO missile defense
Yousaf Butt, Reuters – June 17, 2013
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to discuss missile defense, their thorniest bilateral problem, at the G8 summit in Ireland on June 17 and 18. Previous talks between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have floundered over the alliance’s refusal to give Moscow legal guarantees that the system would not undermine Russian nuclear forces.
