Turkey’s Nuclear Turbines

Mark Hibbs | Arms Control Wonk

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has compelled governments in the US and Europe to decide in some cases whether to permit significant lucrative transactions, contracted for by Western nuclear firms with Russian industry before the war began, to be completed. The apparent political sensitivity in one such case involving Russia and Turkey has now raised questions about which supplier will in fact deliver turbine equipment essential to finish construction and then operate a Russian nuclear power plant on the territory of a NATO member state.

Photos likely show undeclared North Korea uranium enrichment site, analysts say

Ju-min Park and Josh Smith | Reuters

Photos of North Korea's uranium enrichment facility may show an undeclared site for building nuclear bombs just outside of its capital, analysts said. North Korea for the first time showed images on Friday of the centrifuges that produce fuel for its nuclear bombs, as leader Kim Jong Un visited a uranium enrichment facility and called for more weapons-grade material to boost the arsenal. The photos showed Kim walking between long rows of metal centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium... North Korea watchers and analysts said the site, known as Kangson, is suspected to be a covert uranium enrichment plant.

Iran’s efforts to reengage with West face new challenges

Susannah George, Karen DeYoung and Suzan Haidamous | The Washington Post

U.S. sanctions over Iran’s missile deal with Russia are unlikely to derail President Masoud Pezeshkian’s efforts to bring his country out of isolation, diplomats say. Since coming to power in July, Iran’s new political leadership has signaled its interest in reengaging with the West — which could bring restored ties and sanctions relief for the isolated country.

Russian nuclear test chief says Moscow is ready to resume testing 'at any moment'

Andrew Osborn | Reuters

The head of Russia's nuclear testing site said on Tuesday his secretive facility was ready to resume nuclear tests "at any moment" if Moscow gave the order, in rare comments likely to fuel concerns that the risk of such a step is rising. Moscow has not conducted a nuclear weapons test since 1990, the year before the fall of the Soviet Union, but some Western and Russian analysts say President Vladimir Putin could order one to try to send a message of deterrence to the West if it lets Ukraine use its long-range missiles to strike Russia, something that is under discussion.

Russia Sharing Nuclear Secrets With Iran Fuels US-UK Worries

Alex Wickham | Bloomberg

The US and UK are increasingly concerned that Russia is sharing with Iran secret information and technology that could bring it closer to being able to build nuclear weapons, in exchange for Tehran providing Moscow with ballistic missiles for its war in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia plans to allow tougher nuclear oversight by IAEA this year 

Francois Murphy | Reuters

Saudi Arabia plans to scrap light-touch oversight of its nuclear facilities by the U.N. atomic watchdog and switch to regular safeguards by the end of this year, the kingdom said on Monday, a step the watchdog has long been calling for. Saudi Arabia has a nascent nuclear programme that it wants to expand to eventually include activities like proliferation-sensitive uranium enrichment. It is unclear where its ambitions end, since Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said for years it will develop nuclear weapons if regional rival Iran does.