As Talks Continue, Diplomacy Works to Strengthen U.S. Security

February 17, 2015 | Edited by Will Saetren

Diplomacy works - A comprehensive agreement remains the best outcome, but another extension of the Iran nuclear talks would also benefit the U.S., writes Zachary Keck in The National Interest.

--In fact, “The agreement becomes more advantageous to Washington and its allies the longer the stalemate persists… Iran continues to lose nearly $4 billion every month… diminishing market expectations will also impede Iran’s economy… Iran's nuclear capacity further erodes the longer the stalemate persists.” http://bit.ly/1vSvV94

Reports and leaks - U.S. officials have reportedly decided to reduce the exchange of sensitive information with Israeli officials due to concerns that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office may be leaking details of the U.S. position to Israeli press. Washington Post's David Ignatius examines this and the underlying tension between the administrations on Iran.

--The alleged leaks include details of a U.S. offer to allow Iran to keep 6,500 centrifuges but leave out other details, like the type of centrifuges and size of Iran's uranium stockpile, giving a flawed picture of the final deal, the White House argues. http://wapo.st/1AvoaYh

--See Also: “Washington officials deny report of freezing Israel out of Iran nuclear talks” by Jerusalem Post's Michael Wilner. http://bit.ly/17DqPm1

Tweet - @MarthaRaddatz explores the Iran many in America never see: http://abcn.ws/1yGZ1Tc

UPF cap - Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), has a plan to bring the Uranium Processing Facility to completion on time and on budget: give the Red Team project managers a budget cap of $6.5 billion and tell them “we would like to see it built on time and on budget.”

--Asked whether the cap was absolute or adjustable, Sen. Alexander said, “It is time that we came to a cap… The new uranium facility should be designed to spend no more than $6.5 billion. That's the direction we gave to the project manager." Frank Munger has the story for the Knoxville News Sentinel. http://bit.ly/1Bj0Z38

A good sign - “Whether or not [the Supreme Leader’s] declared aims match his actual wishes remains unclear. But his latest speech is yet another ringing endorsement of the Rouhani government’s nuclear policy,” writes Ariane Tabatabai in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

--“That makes this moment a unique opportunity for Iranian negotiators to make a comprehensive deal they can sell to domestic hardliners, using the momentum provided by the country’s highest political authority http://bit.ly/1zKXATT

Not quite pen pals - An Iranian spokesperson denied a media report that Iran's Supreme leader recently responded to a letter sent in October by President Obama suggesting cooperation in the fight against ISIS if a nuclear deal is reached. Reuters reports. http://reut.rs/1DzPvHR

--The original Wall Street Journal report quotes an unnamed Iranian official describing the Supreme Leader's response as "respectful" but noncommittal. http://on.wsj.com/1DPbaME

NPT woes - “As global power dynamics continue to shift we may come to a time when the [nonproliferation] regime loses steam without a potent superpower champion,” writes Rebecca Gibbons for The Washington Post. Full story here. http://wapo.st/1yCcziL

Quick Hits:

--“Good or Bad Iran Nuke Deal? Israel Vs. the US Administration,” by George Jahn for the Associated Press. http://abcn.ws/1DlTqcE

--“Scientists claim N. Korea conducted secret nuclear test in 2010,” by the Yonhap News Agency. http://bit.ly/1L8o5va

--“China's foreign minister pushes Iran on nuclear deal,” by Reuters. http://reut.rs/1vPANf3

Events:

--Annual “Nuclear Deterrence Summit.” February 17-20 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St. NW, Washington. Register online. http://bit.ly/1zG0IUF

--"Nixon Legacy Forum: Detente & Arms Control with the USSR," featuring Phil Odeen, Jan Lodal, David Aaron and Winston Lord, former members of Nixon's National Security Council staff. February 23, 10:00 AM, National Archives Museum McGowan Theater, Constitution Ave. between 7th and 9th Sts. NW, Washington. RSVP online. Webcast on YouTube. http://bit.ly/1M9CBUJ

--“Commission to Review the Effectiveness of the National Energy Laboratories,” public meeting on February 24 from 9:00 AM - noon. Located at the Hilton at Mark Center, Birch Conference Room, 5000 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA. RSVP via e-mail to CRENEL@hq.doe.gov. http://1.usa.gov/1B2aXpx

--“The Past and Future of the Nuclear Enterprise.” Featuring Michael Elliott, Deputy Director for Strategic Stability Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Center for Strategic and International Studies. February 25 from 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM. Located at CSIS, 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW, Washington. RSVP online. http://bit.ly/1xXGYaE

--“Wait...Nukes Cost HOW Much?” Webinar hosted by Physicians for Social Responsibility. Featuring Theresa Shaffer, Physicians for Social Responsibility and guest speaker Laicie Heeley, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. February 25 from 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST. Register online. http://bit.ly/1vws3dJ

Dessert:

Death and the labs - “There were exactly twenty-four, an even two-dozen ways to die while working at an isolated nuclear weapons laboratory.” That list includes dying from shock, extreme intoxication and drowning. Alex Wellerstein tells the full story in The Nuclear Secrecy Blog. http://bit.ly/1CEBSTE