The Nuclear Deal With Iran: The Final Step or a New Stage?
Alexey Arbatov and Vladimir Sazhin
On July 14, 2015, Iran, the European Union, and the P5+1 states—Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States plus Germany—agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), crowning a diplomatic process that had stretched over twelve years. The JCPOA is intended to resolve one of the most serious international security problems of the past two decades. Both the form and the content of the current document remain complicated. This article reviews the background and political aspects of the Iranian nuclear problem from a Russian perspective, analyzes the technical and military-political dimensions of the JCPOA, and evaluates the likely impact of the agreement and key implementation challenges.
Iran Conducts Space Launch
Bill Gertz | Washington Free Beacon
Iran this week conducted the first launch of a new rocket that the Pentagon views as a key element of Tehran’s effort to build long-range missiles. The launch of the Simorgh space launch vehicle on Tuesday was judged by U.S. intelligence agencies to be partly successful but did not reach orbit, said defense officials familiar with reports of the test.
Iran Issues First Progress Report on Nuclear Deal
Ariane Tabatabai | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
On April 17, 2016, Iran’s Foreign Ministry presented its first progress report on implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the deal concluded last summer between Tehran and six world powers to scale back Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief (link in Persian). The Foreign Ministry plans to present such a report to parliament every quarter, with the ostensible goal of assessing headway on implementation. The first installment, though, while highlighting Tehran’s compliance with the JCPOA, also shows the government of President Hassan Rouhani, the moderate leader who championed negotiations, still trying to sell the deal at home.
U.S., Iran Make Progress on Nuclear Deal Implementation
Japan Today
The United States and Iran made progress Tuesday on implementing an international nuclear deal during a UN meeting of the countries’ chief diplomats, who said they would meet again on Friday. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met for 2 1/2 hours after Tehran complained that it was not receiving enough sanctions relief.
North Korea’s Nuclear Test Site: Limited Activity Continues; Tunnel Excavation Resumes
38 North
New commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Punggye-ri nuclear test site from April 19 shows limited vehicle and equipment activity at the North Portal and Main Support Area as well as indications of resumed excavation operations at the West Portal. These activities by themselves do not establish that test preparations are imminent. However, the possibility of an impending test cannot be ruled out. Pyongyang has clearly demonstrated, with its fourth nuclear detonation this past January, the ability to conduct detonations on short notice while masking indicators of its preparations from satellite view.
Belgium Rejects German Call for Nuclear Plants Closure
Guardian
Belgium on Wednesday rejected a request by neighbouring Germany to shutter two ageing nuclear plants near their shared border, arguing the facilities met with the strictest safety standards. German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks earlier on Wednesday requested that the 40-year-old Tihange 2 and Doel 3 reactors be turned off “until the resolution of outstanding security issues”. In response, Belgium’s official nuclear safety agency (AFCN) said the two plants “respond to the strictest possible safety requirements.”