The Iran Plot: Responses and Reactions

On the radar: Plot alleged, sanctions proposed; Panetta seeks savings from new weapons programs; Tauscher heads to Moscow, Atlantic Council; US interests and a uranium deal with Iran; Global Zero in California; and Going the distance on CTBT.

October 12, 2011 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke and Mary Kaszynski

The Iran plot - Yesterday, the Department of Justice announced that it foiled a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US. The plot has alleged links to members of Iran’s Quds force. It is an “uncharacteristically bold” development, write Joby Warrick and Thomas Erdbrink for the Washington Post. http://owl.li/6V3w6

Tweet - @barbaraslavin1: something smells about charges against #iran. either quds force tradecraft has gone down the toilet or somebody is making mischief.

Admin responses - Treasury announced new sanctions on several Iranian officials affiliated with the Quds force. http://owl.li/6V3T8

-- State issued a travel alert for U.S. citizens abroad. http://owl.li/6V3UO

Tweet - @cirincione: Is it just me, or are a whole lot of people jumping to a whole lot of conclusions? #Iran

Hill reactions - Sen. Durbin called for additional measures on Iran, saying “We need to heighten the sanctions on Iran and make it clear that this type of action will not be countenanced.”

-- Sen. Kirk said, “What the administration should do is prepare to move against Bank Markazi [Iran's Central Bank] in response to the bomb plot.” Josh Rogin reports. http://owl.li/6V5D3

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Panetta on defense cuts - To trim a projected $450 billion from the defense budget, Sec. Panetta said Tuesday that the largest share of savings will come from foregoing spending on new weapons systems.

--”Defense analysts also have said that nuclear-weapons modernization—including new warheads, missiles, bombers and submarines—will face likely trims,” reports The Wall Street Journal. http://owl.li/6UZuM

US-Russia BMD talks - Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher is in Moscow for another round of US-Russia talks on NATO missile defense. At the last meeting, Russia emphasized “guarantees” that the system would not be targeted against Russian strategic force. From GSN. http://owl.li/6UZAC

Event: Transatlantic Missile Defense - The Atlantic Council’s annual conference on transatlantic missile defense is next Tuesday, October 18. The event features a briefing on the EPAA by Lt. Gen. Patrick O'Reilly from the Missile Defense Agency, a keynote address on the NATO Chicago Summit by Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher, and two panels assessing progress to date and the future of transatlantic missile defense featuring leading American and European experts. Event details and RSVP here: http://owl.li/6UZDx

Calling Ahmadinejad’s bluff - From the Department of Awkward Timing: The Iranian president has repeated offered to cease efforts to produce uranium fuel for one of its nuclear reactors if it could purchase the fuel from abroad. James Acton says, “The United States should accept this proposal — publicly, immediately and unconditionally.”

--Acton argues that, if implemented, the proposal could get Iran to halt production of 20% enriched uranium - “well worth the price” of the deal. Even if Ahmadinejad is bluffing or unable to follow through, demonstrating the West’s seriousness to find diplomatic solution in the face of Iranian intransigence would strengthen international support for U.S. policy on Iran. http://owl.li/6V2dc

Press from the Global Zero summit - “Nuclear weapons were once the ultimate symbol of super power. But in this era of terrorism and nuclear proliferation, they have come to signify exactly the opposite: superpower vulnerability,” writes Dan Froomkin. http://owl.li/6V5KM

--See also: ”No Nukes: Bringing the Right and Left Together” from NPR. http://owl.li/6V5N2

No "50-Yard Dash” to CTBT - “It took 50 years to get where we are. Reality might dictate that in the next 15 weeks or even 15 months the U.S. ratification [of the CTBT] won't happen,” said Tibor Tóth, executive secretary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. “It's important that all the information is put on the table and it's important that there is a serious assessment of what this treaty can bring to the security of the United States.” http://owl.li/6UYRi