IRAN
Russia says Iran nuclear talks were ‘quite promising’
Reuters – October 17, 2013
Russia described the P5+1 talks held in Geneva this week as “quite promising”. The news comes a day after the Russian delegation in Geneva had lamented the the lack of progress that had been made over the course of the two day talks.
White House Weighs Easing Iran Sanctions’ Bite With Slow Release of Assets
Mark Landler, The New York Times – October 17, 2013
Senior officials within the Obama administration are considering limited sanctions relief for Iran if the country takes specific steps to curb its enrichment program. The plan would entail freeing up frozen Iranian funds in incremental installments.
Iranian foreign minister accuses Israel of trying to undermine nuclear talks with world powers
Associated Press, The Washington Post – October 18, 2013
Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif accused Israel of “disturbing” ongoing diplomatic efforts with world powers on his Facebook page on Friday. This, he concluded, was a reflection of the country’s “frustration and warmongering”.
Iran’s nuclear resolve fueled by Iraq’s chemical assault in war
Ramin Mostaghim and Patrick J. McDonnell, The Los Angeles Times – October 17, 2013
During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, chemical weapons were deployed on numerous occasions by the Iraqi army. Recent revelations about US assistance during these deployments has created resentment within the Iranian population towards the US and has complicated ongoing negotiations over Iran’s nuclear enrichment program between the two countries.
DISARMAMENT
Analyst: Disarming Syria Could Open Russia to More Nuclear-Arms Cuts
Global Security Newswire Staff – October 17, 2013
The US and Russia successfully cooperated in creating a framework for destroying Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile in recent months. This could set a precedent for future cooperation on weapons of mass destruction disarmament between the two countries.
NORTH KOREA
What’s behind South Korean president’s new strategy on North Korea?
Peter Ford, The Christian Science Monitor – October 17, 2013
Since winning office in February, South Korea’s new President Park Gyeun-hye has been promoting the policy of “trust building” towards North Korea. The policy attempts to use both carrots and sticks towards Pyongyang and, most notably, does not make closer links between the North and South contingent on an end to the North’s nuclear weapons program.
The North Korea threat
Stefan Soesanto, The Hill – 17 October, 2013
The Obama administration’s policy of “strategic patience” towards North Korea is the only feasible way to make Pyongyang comply with their denuclearization obligations. The policy, which amounts to non-cooperation with the North until it has taken steps to denuclearize, holds more promise than the largely unsuccessful South Korean policy of “trust building”.
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
U.S. nuclear arms modernization plan misguided: scientists’ group
David Alexander, Reuters – October 17, 2013
The Union for Concerned Scientists released an 81-page report on Thursday arguing that the Obama administration’s nuclear modernization plan is misguided and in violation of the spirit of recent pledges not to develop new nuclear weapons.
