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Iran Nuclear Propulsion: IAEA Firewalls

IN THIS ISSUE: Iran Nuclear Propulsion: IAEA Firewalls, Fleet of 12 Nuclear Submarines in Line for Pentagon Approval, China Shrugs Off Trump Twitter Jab on North Korea, China Turns Screw on Corporate South Korea Over US Missile Shield, France Ready to Save Nuclear Group Areva Whoever Wins Presidency, and more.

Published on January 5, 2017

Iran Nuclear Propulsion: IAEA Firewalls

Mark Hibbs | Arms Control Wonk

At the beginning of 2017, the future of the JCPOA is on the line. Questions loom about whether this year and beyond the six governments that negotiated it will remain united about what they believe Iran needs to do to comply. During his election campaign U.S. President-elect Trump vowed to terminate the JCPOA. If America’s strategic relations with China and Russia deteriorate further, that may influence these states’ resolve to hold Iran to the letter of its commitments. In this uncertain situation, Iran’s counterparts need to make clear to the IAEA and to Iran right now that the JCPOA gives Iran no wiggle room to negotiate with the IAEA an arrangement that permits Iran to initiate nuclear activities for the development of a future nuclear navy.

Fleet of 12 Nuclear Submarines in Line for Pentagon Approval

Anthony Capaccio | Bloomberg

The Pentagon’s top weapons buyer has approved advanced development for a fleet of 12 new nuclear-armed submarines, a potential $128 billion project that the Navy calls its top priority. Frank Kendall, the undersecretary for acquisition, signed the decision memo that officially moves the program forward late Wednesday. Shortly before acting, Kendall, who’s departing when President Barack Obama steps down on Jan. 20, said in an interview, “I’m hoping to have it done before I leave.” The new Columbia-class submarine is part of a trillion-dollar program to modernize the U.S.’s sea-air-land nuclear triad over the next 30 years, including maintenance and support.

China Shrugs Off Trump Twitter Jab on North Korea

Damien Paletta | Wall Street Journal

President-elect Donald Trump chided North Korea and China in two Twitter posts, but Beijing on Tuesday shrugged off the criticism over its role in curbing Pyongyang’s weapons program. In his first tweet, Mr. Trump remarked Monday on news over the weekend that North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said his government was completing preparations for a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which could be the next stage in developing a nuclear weapon that could strike parts of the U.S.

China Turns Screw on Corporate South Korea Over US Missile Shield

Charles Clover | Financial Times

China has threatened some of South Korea’s largest companies over Seoul’s decision to deploy a US ballistic missile shield, according to several people briefed on the conversations. Samsung and Lotte Group were among companies warned by a foreign ministry official during a visit to Seoul last week that their China business could suffer because of the Korean stance.

France Ready to Save Nuclear Group Areva Whoever Wins Presidency

Geert de Clerq | Reuters

A government-led rescue of French nuclear group Areva and the wider atomic energy industry may cost the state as much as 10 billion euros ($10.45 billion), but political support is almost certain whoever wins the presidential election in May. While taxpayers will ultimately pick up the huge bill, the main election contenders - from the Socialists and conservatives to the far-right National Front - broadly back the bailout, which involves splitting up Areva.

Outlawing State-Sponsored Nuclear-Procurement Programs and Pursuing Recovery of Misappropriated Nuclear Goods

Leonard S. Spector | James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

State-sponsored illicit nuclear-procurement activities have played a crucial role in advancing the nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea and will undoubtedly be used by the next country that seeks to pursue a nuclear-weapon capability. However, as this study details, this dangerous conduct has never been condemned as a distinct offense against international norms and rules sufficient to trigger sanctions or other punitive action against the offending state. This study proposes to outlaw state-sponsored illicit nuclear-procurement programs through the accretion of declarations by international and multilateral bodies condemning this conduct and expressing the intention to consider punitive measures in future cases where this conduct is observed.

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