Long-Planned and Bigger Than Thought: Strike on Iran’s Nuclear Program
David E. Sanger, Eric Schmitt and Ronen Bergman| New York Times
As Iran’s center for advanced nuclear centrifuges lies in charred ruins after an explosion, apparently engineered by Israel, the long-simmering conflict between the United States and Tehran appears to be escalating into a potentially dangerous phase likely to play out during the American presidential election campaign. New satellite photographs over the stricken facility at Natanz show far more extensive damage than was clear last week. Two intelligence officials, updated with the damage assessment for the Natanz site recently compiled by the United States and Israel, said it could take the Iranians up to two years to return their nuclear program to the place it was just before the explosion.
Return to INF Treaty Impossible After US withdrawal — Russian Deputy Foreign Minister
TASS
The US withdrawal from the Inermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has become an irreparable mistake, which makes the return to the agreement impossible, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with the Duma TV channel on Friday.
Bad Faith All the Way: US Attempts to Bring China to the Arms Control Table
Ankit Panda | The Diplomat
China doesn’t like much to talk about the idea of trilateral arms control so it’s notable when a senior Chinese diplomat — one specifically leading the arms control portfolio — chooses to address the issue in some detail. Last week, Fu Cong, the head of the arms control department of Chinese foreign ministry, spoke on the subject.
New Nuclear Warhead Funding Would be Blocked by House Appropriators
Aaron Mehta | Defense News
Energy and water appropriators voted Monday to block funding sought by the Trump administration to develop a new submarine-launched nuclear warhead design, known as the W93.The members of the House Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee voted in favor of language saying that “no funding” may be used on the new warhead design, which the Pentagon hopes to have fielded by 2040. The language was adopted as part of the overall bill that passed by a 30-21 vote Monday.
Another Summit With U.S. 'Not Needed,' 'Not Beneficial': Kim's Sister
Yi Wonju | Yonhap News Agency
Another summit with the United States is "not needed" and "not beneficial" for North Korea as long as there is no change in Washington's negotiating position, the sister of leader Kim Jong-un said Friday. Kim Yo-jong made the remark in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency after U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier this week that he would hold another summit with the North's leader "if I thought it was going to be helpful."
Democrats Split on Trump Plan to Use Development Funds For Nuclear Projects
Rebecca Beitsch | The Hill
Democratic lawmakers are split over a Trump administration proposal that would allow international development funds to be used for overseas nuclear projects. The U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC), a fledgling government fund with an aim to alleviate poverty, has proposed lifting the longtime ban it inherited from its predecessor that bars funding for any nuclear projects.