Adoption Day Moves Iran Deal Forward

First phase of Iran deal moves ahead - “The United States approved conditional sanctions waivers for Iran on Sunday, though it cautioned they would not take effect until Tehran has curbed its nuclear program as required under a historic nuclear deal reached in Vienna on July 14”, writes Louis Charbonneau for Reuters. “In a memo, he directed the secretaries of state, treasury, commerce and energy ‘to take all necessary steps to give effect to the U.S. commitments with respect to sanctions described in (the Iran deal).’”

--“Several senior U.S. officials, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity, said actual sanctions relief for Iran was at least two months away. Sunday was ‘adoption day’ for the deal, which came 90 days after the U.N. Security Council endorsed the agreement reached by Iran, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China under which most sanctions on Iran would be lifted in exchange for limits on Tehran's nuclear activities.” Read the full story here. http://reut.rs/1GNWb40

Want to learn more about Adoption Day? - Check out the factsheet at the Center for Arms Control and Proliferationhttp://bit.ly/1hQrrJ9

From Russia with love - Last month four Russian cruise missiles aimed at positions in Syria accidentally crashed in Iran and killed a number of cows. “It could have been a lot worse” write Tom Collina and Will Saetren of the Ploughshares Fund for Defense One. In 2007 the U.S. Air Force mistook six nuclear armed cruise missiles for conventional ones and flew them across the country. It took 36 hours before anyone realized the mistake. If such an error could occur under strict American guidelines, imagine what can happen in Russia.

-- The cruise missiles used in Syria were also nuclear capable, and “if nuclear warheads had been involved and some of them crashed in Iran without detonating (which is likely), Tehran could have retrieved them.” For Russia to hand Iran a nuclear warhead after just completing negotiations to prevent Iran from getting such a weapon would be highly Ironic.

-- The best way to prevent such accidents is to ban nuclear capable cruise missiles entirely. President Obama can safely cancel current plans to build a new fleet of these dangerous weapons, “and challenge other nations, like Russia,” to do the same. “This step would save tens of billions of dollars, reduce the risk of nuclear war and provide momentum toward Obama’s goal of eliminating nuclear weapons.” Full story here. http://bit.ly/1jRHEPP

Obama sets eyes on North Korean deal - “After cutting deals with Cuba and Iran, President Barack Obama is talking up the idea of cutting a deal with North Korea. On Friday, Obama offered up an Iran-style deal to eliminate Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons in return for sanctions relief”, writes Steven Dennis for Roll Call. “While Obama decried North Korea’s “horrific treatment” of its own people, he noted his deals with Cuba and Iran and suggested he is prepared to talk to and reach accommodations with countries, even if it doesn’t resolve every outstanding issue”.

-- “Obama said a deal with North Korea would have to include the same type of intrusive inspections as are called for in the Iran deal. There’s one catch in getting a deal with North Korea, however: So far, the nation hasn’t shown an interest in giving up its nuclear weapons”. Get the full story here.http://bit.ly/1LlWtDq

Pakistan on its nuclear weapons against India - “On Monday, a top Pakistani official confirmed what had long been suspected by the arms control community: Pakistan will use low-yield nuclear weapons in responding to hypothetical Indian incursions into its territory. According to Pakistani Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary, Pakistan is formalizing it’s plans to use these low-yield nuclear bombs to forestall the advance of Indian troops under New Delhi’s ‘Cold Start’ doctrine”, writes Ankit Panda for The Diplomat.

-- “Chaudhary clarified that no nuclear deal would come out of Sharif’s visit to Washington this week, but the Pakistani prime minister may well end up discussing the issue with Obama. Washington is understandably highly sensitive to the possibility of nuclear weapon use in South Asia and has historically worked with Pakistan to ensure that its nuclear arsenal remains out of the hands of terrorists.” Read the full story here.http://bit.ly/1LlXL1h

North Korea may be preparing for another bomb test - “North Korea has prepared for a fourth nuclear bomb test, South Korea’s intelligence agency told local lawmakers, as officials from Seoul and Tokyo held a rare meeting to improve ties and discussed Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions”, writes Alastair Gale for the Wall Street Journal. “Detonation of a nuclear bomb doesn’t appear to be imminent, however, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service told the lawmakers on Tuesday during a regular parliamentary audit.”

-- “Any new nuclear test would trigger fresh international condemnation and calls for new sanctions against North Korea at the United Nations. While China has provided some support for North Korea against such action in the past, it has made its opposition to Pyongyang’s nuclear program stronger in recent years. A tougher stance by Beijing could have serious implications for North Korea, which depends heavily on its traditional communist ally for economic support”. Get the full story here. http://on.wsj.com/1XhhqEV

Quick Hits:

--Cooling of Russia-U.S. relations not to enhance role of nuclear weapons http://bit.ly/1Pxberc

--Navy to participate in missile defense test in Europe http://1.usa.gov/1XhCmvq

--Looking Beyond New START http://bit.ly/1MS8Vgy

Events:

--“Prevention of and Response to the Arrival of a Dirty Bomb at a U.S. Port”, hearing by House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Tuesday, October 27th at 10:00 AM. Webcast on committee site here. http://1.usa.gov/1Moxnl8

--“Think Nuclear-Free Symposium! The Nuclear-Free Future Award”, sponsored by Green Cross International and the Heinrich Böll Foundation Washington. Thursday, October 29th from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM at Goethe-Institut Washington, 812 7th St. NW, Washington, DC. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1P0wMfy

--“Reliving History: A Retrospective Trident”, featuring Rebecca Hersman and Franklin Miller. Wednesday, November 4th from 5:00 - 7:30 PM at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Second Floor B Room, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington, DC RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1VUkedS

--“Nuclear Detonation Effects in an Urban Area”, featuring John Mercier. Tuesday, November 10th from 12:00 - 1:30 PM at the Department of Science and Technology in Society at Virginia Tech, Virginia Tech Research Center, 900 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/1KXP39b