January 10, 2014 | Edited by Lauren Mladenka and Geoff Wilson

Breaking- Tweets @AliVaez [1]: Iran and the P5+1 have reached agreement for implementing the Geneva deal, pending confirmation from capitals

Solutions - With only one commercial and one research reactor, a sluggish centrifuge program, and a lack of large indigenous uranium resources, “Iran has very little to show for its 50 years of nuclear pursuit.” The solution is for Iran to develop “the capability to fabricate reactor fuel elements and reactor components, [learn] how to build nuclear power plants,” and “cooperate with other countries that sell and build reactors and tailor the design for medical and research applications in order to limit fears of proliferation,” write Siegfried Hecker and William Perry.

--“If Iran accepts these pragmatic approaches to nuclear energy, it can resolve the nuclear stalemate in a manner that serves its people well and is acceptable to the international community.” The New York Times has the full article. http://nyti.ms/1eKxc4d [2]

Sabotage - The latest Iran sanctions bill, introduced in the Senate by Sens. Menendez (D-NJ) and Kirk (R-IL), threatens to derail the breakthrough agreement that Iran and the P5+1 reached that will pause Iran's most worrisome nuclear activities in exchange for limited and reversible sanctions relief, says a new report from the Arms Control Association.

--“Though the cosponsors of S. 1881 may have good intentions, their bill threatens the diplomatic opportunity to rein-in Iran's nuclear capabilities, it would contradict the commitments made by the United States--to both Iran and our P5+1 negotiating partners--to refrain from approving further sanctions legislation, and, most significantly, could push Iran to pull out of the deal and allow it to continue advancing its nuclear program without restrictions. ” Read the full Arms Control Association analysis here. http://bit.ly/1ejON4P [3]

Just say no - “Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel praised troops in the U.S. nuclear missile force on Thursday for their professionalism in executing a difficult job, only to be reminded of morale issues facing the unit when two launch officers were suspended in a drug probe,” reports David Alexander for Reuters.

--“As Hagel visited F.E. Warren Air Force Base and toured a missile site in nearby Nebraska, two Air Force officers belonging to a missile launch crew at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana had their security clearances suspended after they were implicated in an illegal narcotics operation.” Read the full story here. http://reut.rs/1iXSMHW [4]

Oil and the Iran deal - “Iran and Russia are negotiating an oil-for-goods swap worth $1.5 billion a month that would let Iran lift oil exports substantially, in defiance of Western sanctions that helped force Tehran to agree a preliminary deal to end its nuclear program,” report Jonathan Saul and Parisa Hafezi for the Chicago Tribune. What is not clear is “whether the deal would be implemented before the nuclear agreement” or “how Moscow will justify to other powers a barter deal that could jeopardize the nuclear negotiations by easing the economic pressure on Tehran.” Full article here. http://bit.ly/1ejPpav [5]

Do as we say - “Nations around the globe have taken important steps over the past two years to safeguard nuclear weapons materials from potential thefts by terrorists,” writes Douglas Birch in an article for The Center for Public Integrity, “largely because of a concerted effort by the United States to collect the materials or to assist in their protection or destruction.” However, the rank given to the United States by a new Nuclear Threat Initiative report saw “U.S. security measures [slip] during the period… partly because the government has not allowed international inspection of a former military bomb fuel plant,” and also because Congress failed “to ratify two international treaties setting standards for fissile material protections and making nuclear terrorism a crime.” Read the full story here. http://bit.ly/1cKasSe [6]

Fears about Pakistan - Following the retirement of Lt. Gen. Khalid Kidwai, “Pakistan remains deeply nuclear-insecure.” Full story from Michael Kugelman in The National Interest. http://bit.ly/1fjmbM3 [7]

Events:

--”What Will 2014 Bring for North Korea’s Nuclear Program?” Discussion with James Schoff, Toby Dalton, Go Myong-Hyun, Choi Kang, Park Jiyoung, and Shin Chang-Hoon. Jan. 21st from 9:00-12:00 at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. RSVP here. http://ceip.org/1lIxXQo [8]

--”Making Sense of Nuclear Negotiations with Iran: A Good Deal or a Bad Deal?” Discussion with Alireza Nader, Daryl Kimball and Paul Pillar. Jan. 22nd from 10:00-11:00am at 2168 Rayburn House Office Building. RSVP here. http://bit.ly/19Th8zR [9]