90 Senators Press Obama on Iran's Central Bank

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90 Senators Press Obama on Iran's Central Bank

IN THIS ISSUE: Senators press Obama on Iran, Iran MP: Bushehr launch delayed again, Bayer threatens to leave Germany over nuclear shutdown, N. Korea claims only one uranium enrichment plant, US, Russia to continue missile defense talks, US reactor completion put back.

Published on August 9, 2011

In This Issue

Senators Press Obama on Iran's Central Bank
Wall Street Journal

Iran MP: Nuclear Plant's Launch Delayed Again
Associated Press

Bayer Threatens to Leave Germany Over Nuclear Shutdown
Deutsche Welle

North Korea Claims Only One Uranium Enrichment Plant
Asahi Shimbun

U.S., Russia to Continue Missile Defense Talks in St. Petersburg
RIA Novosti

U.S. Reactor Completion Put Back
World Nuclear News

Senators Press Obama on Iran's Central Bank

Jay Solomon | Wall Street Journal

More than 90 U.S. senators signed a letter to President Barack Obama pressing him to sanction Iran's central bank, with some threatening legislation to force the move, an outcome that would represent a stark escalation in tensions between the two countries.

Such a measure, if effectively implemented, could potentially freeze Iran out of the global financial system and make it nearly impossible for Tehran to clear billions of dollars in oil sales every month, said current and former U.S. officials.

Many American officials view the blacklisting of Bank Markazi as the "nuclear option" in Washington's financial war against Tehran. Some Iranian leaders have said they would view such a move by the Obama administration as an act of war.

The letter was co-sponsored by Sens. Mark Kirk (R., Ill.) and Charles Schumer (D., N.Y.) in a sign of the bipartisan support for tougher financial measures against Iran. The U.S. fears Iran is developing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies. "In our view, the United States should embark on a comprehensive strategy to pressure Iran's financial system by imposing sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran," said the letter that was viewed by The Wall Street Journal and will be delivered to the White House on Tuesday. "If our allies are willing to join, we believe this step can be even more effective." Full Article

Follow the Nuclear Policy Program

More from Proliferation News

Iran MP: Nuclear Plant's Launch Delayed Again

Nasser Karimi | Associated Press

An Iranian lawmaker said the country's first nuclear power plant will not start up by late August as planned and blamed the delay on Russia, which is building the facility, local media reported Monday. The disclosure by Asgar Jalalian, a member of a special parliamentary committee on the Bushehr nuclear plant, reflects the continued the difficulties Iran has faced in moving forward with its controversial nuclear program. Full Article

Bayer Threatens to Leave Germany Over Nuclear Shutdown

Richard Connor | Deutsche Welle

Pharmaceutical and chemical giant Bayer on Saturday issued a warning that it my leave Germany because of rising electricity prices linked to Germany's decision to end its nuclear energy program. Bayer employs 35,000 people in Germany, but CEO Marijn Dekkers told the German weekly business magazine Wirtschaftswoche that energy prices posed a genuine threat to the company's manufacturing operations in the country. Full Article

North Korea Claims Only One Uranium Enrichment Plant

Yoshihiro Makino | Asahi Shimbun

North Korea, despite U.S. assertions to the contrary, maintains it is not operating any uranium enrichment facilities other than the one it acknowledges in Yongbyon, sources said. North Korea's denial came during talks last month with the United States. However, Washington believes North Korea is determined to secretly continue its uranium enrichment program to produce nuclear warheads, the sources said. Full Article

Related

ASEAN to Begin Talks With Powers on Nuke-Free Zone (Global Security Newswire)

U.S., Russia to Continue Missile Defense Talks in St. Petersburg

RIA Novosti

The United States and Russia will continue talks on the issue of a proposed European missile shield on August 11-12 in St. Petersburg, the U.S. Department of State said on Monday. Ellen Tauscher, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, will meet with chief Russian negotiator on the issue, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. Full Article

U.S. Reactor Completion Put Back

World Nuclear News

Watts Bar unit 2 will not enter commercial operation until 2013, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) has announced. The reactor had been due to enter service during 2012. TVA says it is reviewing the construction and licensing schedule for the 86%-complete 1270 MWe pressurised water reactor (PWR), but chief operating officer Bill McCollum has said that the company will not now meet its "aggressive" 60-month timetable to complete the reactor. Full Article

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.

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