Iran’s Election: Consensus on Nuclear Program, Differences on Diplomacy

On the radar: Presidential nuclear platforms; “Pointless” bombs in Europe; Negotiating neighbors; “Strategy for Peace” turns 50; and Enhancing atomic sleuthing.

June 10, 2013 | Edited by Benjamin Loehrke and Alyssa Demus

Iran election roundup -

--All of Iran’s presidential candidates have a similar stance on the nuclear issue: not “bargaining away the nation’s perceived right to enrich uranium for power generation.” Thomas Erdbrink of The New York Times has the story. http://nyti.ms/12fliwO

--While the candidates support Iran’s enrichment program, “there are some differences over strategy in talks and leeway for any deal to ease sanctions pressure,” report Zahra Hosseinian and Marcus George for Reuters. Candidate Hassan Rohani has taken a position of calling for diplomacy that would protect Iran’s perceived nuclear rights while easing sanctions, while hardliners including Saeed Jalili campaigned against conciliation with the West. http://reut.rs/11aMyb5

--Iran’s Guardian Council denied reports today that it was considering barring moderate candidate Hassan Rohani from the presidential race, reports Yeganeh Torbati of Reuters. http://reut.rs/14smFYh

--Conservative candidate Gholam Ali Haddad Adel withdrew from the election, reports AP. The election is set to take place this Friday, June 14. http://wapo.st/16WS1Km

Nukes in the Netherlands - There are roughly 22 nuclear weapons stored on Dutch territory at Volkel air base, according to ex-Dutch prime minister Ruud Lubbers. "I think they are an absolutely pointless part of a tradition in military thinking," said the ex-PM who “would never have thought the silly things would still be there in 2013,” when leaving his post in 1994. BBC has the full story. http://owl.li/lSlPD

Korea talks - North and South Korea held a 17-hour negotiating session last week - seeking to restore joint economic projects and ease animosity. It was “their highest-level talks in years.” While far from certain to succeed, the occurrence of talks is seen as progress following the war of words on the Korean Peninsula this spring. AP has the story. http://wapo.st/18nHiZK

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50th anniversary - 50 years ago today, President John F. Kennedy gave one of the most important nuclear policy speeches in U.S. history in his commencement address at American University. He spoke about the pursuit of peace - “not merely peace in our time but peace for all time.”

--”Today the expenditure of billions of dollars every year on weapons acquired for the purpose of making sure we never need to use them is essential to keeping the peace. But surely the acquisition of such idle stockpiles--which can only destroy and never create--is not the only, much less the most efficient, means of assuring peace,” said President Kennedy.

--President Kennedy announced a moratorium on atmospheric nuclear tests and opened negotiations on a “badly needed” treaty to outlaw nuclear tests. “The conclusion of such a treaty, so near and yet so far, would check the spiraling arms race in one of its most dangerous areas. It would place the nuclear powers in a position to deal more effectively with one of the greatest hazards which man faces in 1963, the further spread of nuclear arms. It would increase our security--it would decrease the prospects of war.”

--Read or watch the speech here. http://bit.ly/19091Nc

Tweet - @Diplomat_APAC: Is #NorthKorea ready to come back to the negotiating table? bit.ly/19gxznB

P5+1 proposal - While still officially under wraps, a western official confirmed the details of the P5+1 proposal that member states presented to Iran in February, reported on in April by the Christian Science Monitor’s Scott Peterson.

--Proposal highlights: Iran would “suspend enrichment over 5% everywhere; place Fordow in a Reduced Readiness status...with strengthened IAEA monitoring” and in return Iran would receive “civil nuclear cooperation; fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor; and sanctions relief.” Laura Rozen at The Back Channel reports on the full proposal. http://owl.li/lSyqt

New tech for thwarting smugglers - Using a new short-pulse laser, scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory were able to successfully detect and identify nuclear materials held in sealed containers. “They directed laser-generated neutrons at a sealed container holding a nuclear material as well as a container with nothing inside. Through this the team was able to determine which container held the atomic substance and how much was present.”

--The findings of the experiment are significant because “the threat remains: the former Soviet state of Georgia last year said it had conducted 15 criminal probes over seven years as part of its effort to counter nuclear smuggling.” This is but one example of the threat. Chris Schneidmiller at Global Security Newswire has the story. http://owl.li/lSuzw

Speed read -

--”U.S., China say leaders agree North Korea must shed nuclear weapons” from Reuters. http://reut.rs/18nlCx3

Events:

--June 10th is the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s commencement address at American University, where he called for banning nuclear testing. http://bit.ly/18J6Ugk

--”The Implications of the NPT Regime for Nonproliferation.” Speech by Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Countryman. June 18, 9:00 am @ Elliott School of International Affairs. RSVP and details here. http://owl.li/lH9Ks

--"The Nuclear Threat: From Cuba, to Iran, to North Korea,” Joe Cirincione, June 11 5:30-7:30 pm @ World Affairs Council Connecticut, Mark Twain House & Museum Visitors Center, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT. Details here. http://owl.li/lSCB7

--Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, markup of its portion of the defense authorization bill, including NNSA’s nuclear nonproliferation programs. June 11, 6:00 pm 232A Russell Senate Office.

-- "Assessing the Dangers of a Nuclear-Armed Iran,” Colin Kahl, June 12 3:55-4:15 pm, CNAS annual conference. Willard InterContinental Hotel, DC. Webcast here. http://owl.li/lSDNw