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Why Turkey Won't Go Nuclear

IN THIS ISSUE: Why Turkey won't go nuclear, the new US–ROK civil nuclear cooperation agreement, Senate deal sets up Iran vote, Russia lifts ban on S-300 missiles to Iran, Fukui court forbids Takahama nuclear plant restart, Republicans' and Netanyahu's wildly inconsistent opposition to an Iran deal.

Published on April 14, 2015

Why Turkey Won't Go Nuclear

George Perkovich and Sinan Ülgen | Project Syndicate

Economic interests, combined with national-security considerations, give Turkey an incentive not to seek nuclear weapons. As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Turkey is prohibited from developing military applications of the technology. If it were perceived to be breaking this commitment, other states would turn against it and jeopardize its ability to meet growing demand at an affordable cost. 

What the New U.S.–South Korea Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement Means

Duyeon Kim and Mark Hibbs | Carnegie Q&A

The new civil nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and South Korea will provide a legal basis to allow the interdependent nuclear industry partnership between the two countries to continue and expand.

Senate Deal Sets up Iran Vote

David McCabe and Alexander Bolton | Hill

Senators on the Foreign Relations Committee said they had a deal Tuesday that could lead to a bipartisan vote in favor of giving Congress a vote to approve or disapprove a nuclear deal with Iran. Sen. Corker (R-Tenn.) said Tuesday he had reached a bipartisan deal.

Russia Lifts Ban on S-300 Missiles to Iran, Strikes Oil Deal

The Moscow Times

The Kremlin said Putin signed a decree lifting Russia's own ban on the delivery of S-300 anti-missile rocket system to Iran, removing a major irritant between the two after Moscow cancelled a corresponding contract in 2010 under pressure from the West.

Fukui Court Forbids Takahama Nuclear Plant Restart

Eric Johnston | Japan Times

Plans to bring Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Takahama No. 3 and 4 nuclear reactors back online were dealt a severe setback Tuesday when the Fukui District Court approved an injunction against restarting them, citing safety concerns.

Republicans' and Netanyahu's Wildly Inconsistent Opposition to an Iran Deal

Dana Milbank | Washington Post

A week ago, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) went on television and proposed abandoning the nuclear deal just reached with Iran and returning to the 2013 interim agreement that started the talks.

Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.