U.S. Scrambles to do Nuclear Deal With Russia Before Election, Issuing Ultimatum
Paul Sonne and John Hudson | Washington Post
Frustration is mounting inside the Trump administration as Russia gives little indication of whether it will agree to an arms control deal before President Trump faces reelection, according to senior U.S. administration officials, who are trying to secure the deal. U.S. officials presented a proposal to the Russians two weeks ago in Vienna as part of negotiations that began in June. Under the deal, the United States and Russia would extend the soon-to-expire New START pact for a limited time while negotiating a replacement treaty. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin would sign a political agreement outlining a framework for the replacement treaty and what it would cover. The administration’s scramble to cut a deal with Russia before the election comes as the president’s top diplomats have been rushing to secure diplomatic achievements as U.S. voters begin going to the polls.
Iran Says ‘Internal Agents’ may be Responsible for Natanz Blast
Maziar Motamedi | Al Jazeera
The Iranian government said on Tuesday there are strong suspicions that “internal agents” played a role in a massive explosion that occurred at a key nuclear facility earlier this year. On July 2, a fire ripped through a building at Natanz, a major uranium enrichment site. Satellite images showed it caused the roof to collapse and parts of the building were blackened by the blaze. “One of the strong theories is based on internal agents being involved in the incident,” government spokesman Ali Rabiei told reporters at a news conference, according to the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA). “The issue is being seriously reviewed by the country’s security organisations and we will announce the results after things are clear.” It is the first time an Iranian official specifically pointed to the possibility of an inside job for the blast.
PACOM Chief Warns of Threat to Guam; China Presses Hard
Paul McLeary | Breaking Defense
The head of the Indo-Pacific Command issued a stark warning Thursday that large U.S. bases in the Pacific remain outgunned, and underprepared, to defend against China’s massive stockpile of ballistic and cruise missiles. “China has a profound advantage in ballistic missiles against the United States,” Adm. Phil Davidson said during an online talk hosted by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. “They also have a profound advantage in ground-launched cruise missiles. We have to get into that offensive force game as well.” A more pressing concern than building up U.S. offensive firepower is protecting the massive American base at Guam, which has been a key jumping off and resupply point for U.S. ships, bombers, and Marines for decades. “There are billions of dollars in defense capability on Guam” alone, Davidson said. “There needs to be some investment in defending that” from Chinese weapons.
DPRK Nuclear Activities Still ‘Cause for Serious Concern’, Says UN Atomic Energy Chief
UN News
IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi, addressed Member States who are this week attending the agency’s annual General Conference through a combination of in-person and virtual participation. “The DPRK’s nuclear activities remain a cause for serious concern. The continuation of the country’s nuclear programme is a clear violation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and is deeply regrettable”, he said. The IAEA continues to monitor the nuclear programme in the DPRK, also known as North Korea, using open source information including satellite imagery. Mr. Grossi said the agency is “intensifying its readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme”.
New House Legislation Would Put Nuclear Testing Decisions Squarely in Congressional Hands
Chris Galford | Homeland Preparedness News
Democratic representatives and senators have introduced the No Nuclear Testing Without Approval Act to make nuclear testing dependent on Congressional authorization. The effort comes from U.S. Reps. Steven Horsford (D-NV), Reps. Susie Lee (D-NV), Ben McAdams (D-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and TJ Cox (D-CA), along with U.S. Sen. Cortez Masto (D-NV) with an eye on barring nuclear testing in Nevada and elsewhere. The issue has been particularly heated regarding Nevada, as the state currently houses the only site in the nation capable of underground nuclear testing.
UN Nuclear Ban Treaty Reaches 45 Signatories
Kyodo News
Malta, a Mediterranean island country, completed the ratification process for a UN-adopted nuclear ban treaty Monday, bringing the number of such countries and regions to 45 with a total of 50 required for the pact to enter into force, a nonprofit antinuclear organization said. The latest ratification comes on the same day the UN General Assembly held a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the world body's founding. With the addition of one more signatory to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, or ICAN, hopes for an early enforcement of the pact, possibly by the end of this year.