1 Nuclear, MissileNuclear, Missile & Space Digest & Space Digest

Volume 11, Number 12 A Fortnightly Newsletter from the Indian Pugwash Society June 30, 2019

Editor A. INDIA ó Shri Rajnath Singh Assumes Office of the Defence Minister Dr. Rajiv Nayan ó IAF AN-32 Aircraft Missing ó Raksha Mantri Reviews Defence Cooperation Mechanism ó Wreckage of Missing An-32 Aircraft Located ó Dr. K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO briefs media in Bengaluru ó DRDO launches Technology Demonstrator Vehicle ó IAF to buy 100 more Balakot bombs, signs Rs 300 cr deal with Israel ó India sees new deals with Moscow on nuclear energy, space & high tech as a priority - ambassador ó BHEL secures Kudankulam contract ó India-Iran bilateral talks at sidelines of SCO summit to discuss way forward on US oil sanctions Executive Council ó India set to launch second lunar mission; land rover on the moon Prof Amitav Mallik ó ISRO's top milestones in recent years ó DRDO conducts maiden test of hypersonic technology demonstrator Prof Rajesh Rajagopalan ó Pompeo woos India with 'secure' 5G, arms sales & nuke project after recent tensions Shri M V Rappai ó SCO?Summit 2019 Live Updates: PM Modi to meet Iran president Hassan Prof Varun Sahni Rouhani ó Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews DRDO projects, was present at Balasore launch on 12 June

B. CHINA ó China's national supercomputing center launches AI testbed ó China says U.S. actions on Taiwan, South China Sea threaten stability ó China rebuts U.S. acting defense secretary's remarks on Taiwan, South China Sea ó China makes 3-point proposal on enhancing defense cooperation in Asia- Pacific ó China reiterates support for Iran's nuclear deal: Xinhua ó Do you believe in UFOs? China hints at test of new missile ó Carrier rocket's sea launch safer, cheaper: experts ó China launches rocket from ship at sea for first time ó China's Xi says Iran tensions worrying, calls for restraint ó Xi expounds China's position on Syrian conflict, Venezuelan crisis, Iran's nuclear issue ó BeiDou satellite expo opens in East China ó China showcases cluster of 'aircraft carrier killer' missiles ó China completes first offshore rocket launch

Indian Pugwash Society No.1, Development Enclave, Rao Tula Ram Marg, Near USI , Delhi-110010 Email: [email protected]

Tel. No (91-11) 2671-7983 Fax No. (91-11)2615-4192 2 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

ó PLA Army holds first competition for border and coastal ship-and-boat troops ó China to complete BeiDou-3 satellite system by 2020 ó Most cyber attacks from the US: report ó Xi, Putin meet in St. Petersburg ó China's 'artificial sun' to challenge 200 million degrees Celsius ó Air-defense missile system fires at targets in desert ó China's lunar rover travels over 212 meters on moon's far side ó New radar system immune to 'radar killer' missiles ó Private space companies draw inspiration from successful rocket launch at sea ó China rolls out rules for commercial space sector ó Shanghai plans to build hydrogen fuel cells center ó China strengthens technological cooperation with central Asian countries ó Korean Peninsula issue still within the framework of political solution: spokesperson ó International projects set for space station ó China's envoy calls for return to JCPOA track ó US gift to China questions enforcement of N. Korea sanctions ó Newly-launched 'Jilin-1' satellite sends back images ó Heads of Chinese and Foreign Ground Force Academies exchange on military education ó Beijing ready to join Tehran for steadfast comprehensive strategic partnership ó SCO Bishkek declaration calls for enhanced cooperation to promote peace, development ó 'One country, two systems' in Taiwan 'over my dead body:' Han Kuo-yu ó Global AI chip market to grow tenfold in next five years: white paper ó CCTV to dedicate channel to military affairs to promote national defense education

C. PAKISTAN ó H.E Mr Mohamed Karmoune, Ambassador of Morocco called on General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chairman JCS Committee. ó US urges Pakistan to improve ties with India ó Musharraf pressured me to read statement on nuclear proliferation, claims Dr Qadeer

D. USA ó Trump Administration Says It Will Negotiate With Iran With 'No Preconditions' ó US 2018 uranium purchase figures released ó Supposedly executed former North Korean nuclear envoy is alive: CNN ó U.S. shared nuclear power info with Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi killed ó Trump prepared to talk to Iran but says always a chance of military action ó US intel shows Saudi Arabia escalated its missile program with help from China ó Trump 'prepared' to handle responsibility of launching nukes ó Exclusive: U.S. pursues sale of over $2 billion in weapons to Taiwan, sources say, angering China ó U.S. sanctions target Iran petrochemicals, analysts see modest effect ó US DOE changes waste interpretation ó Got $50 million for a vacation? NASA to open space station to private citizens ó New U.S. sanctions show offer of talks with Iran not genuine: Foreign Ministry ó Trump criticizes NASA moon mission after promoting it earlier ó U.S. And Russia Train Together in Arctic, Where They Both Want to Be Top Power ó U.S. says Iran is in breach of nuclear deal but repeats offer of talks ó Third U.S.-North Korea summit possible, up to Kim - Bolton ó Factbox: The ups and downs since Trump first met North Korea's Kim 3 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

ó Rocket firm Relativity signs lease with NASA for new robotic 3D printing factory ó U.S. sanctions Iraq-based company, says it backs Iran's IRGC ó Trump says he is 'in no rush' to make a nuclear deal with North Korea ó U.S. military intelligence steps up accusation against Russia over nuclear testing ó Trump says neither Iran nor U.S. ready to make a deal ó Trump says 'Iran did do it,' as U.S. seeks support on Gulf oil tanker attacks ó Trump says ready to hold talks with Iran despite tanker attacks ó U.S. allows Iraq to import Iranian energy for three more months ó U.S. Escalates Online Attacks on Russia's Power Grid ó Trump's consistent criticism of Iran pushes U.S. to point of potential conflict

E. EUROPE ó French weapons sales to Saudi jumped 50 percent last year ó German FM traveling to Iran to salvage nuclear accord ó German minister lands in Iran in bid to save nuclear pact ó Non-nuclear states discuss weapons proliferation in Sweden ó European officials frustrated over faltering Iran nuke pact ó Bulgaria ready to protect North Macedonia's airspace with F-16 jets ó British opposition leader questions Iran accusations ó EU warns against blaming Iran for oil tanker attack

F. RUSSIA ó Russia & Argentina Expand Nuclear Energy Cooperation ó Three Russian nuclear-powered subs surface through Arctic ice in drills ó Russia's Mideast Nuclear Projects Help Build Trust With Allies - Energy Corp. ó Russia Tests New Missile Defense System, Military Says ó Putin's Media Struggle to Deal With HBO's Chernobyl ó China and Russia sign general contract for two Xudabao units ó Russia Keeps Asking U.S. To Agree to No Nuclear Weapons Use, But It's Not Getting Any Answer ó NPT signatories must return nuclear weapons to their land - Russian, Chinese leaders ó Russia and China reiterate Iran SUPPORT as Tehran works on nuclear weapons ó Putin says Russia has most advanced weapons for its security, even if New START is nixed ó Russia's Putin warns nuclear arms control system risks breaking down ó Putin: Moscow, Beijing agree on building several more Russia-designed nuclear power units ó Rosatom opens a branch in Saudi Arabia ó Russia plans to deliver missiles to Turkey in July; U.S. takes dim view ó Lavrov urges Russia, US to adopt joint declaration on avoiding nuclear war ó US provokes Iran's radical steps on nuclear deal - Russian diplomat ó Russia says US troop build-up in Poland 'undermines stability in Europe' ó Russia's VVER-TOI reactor certified by European utilities ó No unanimity among US intelligence community over claims of nuclear test in Russia -expert

WEST ASIA G. IRAN ó Iranian envoy: S. Arabia, Israel, Egypt, and UAE have been developing missiles with long ranges ó IAEA report proves Iran's support for multilateralism: envoy ó Iran's Rouhani says U.S. 'should return to normal state' for talks': official website 4 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

ó Iran's defense power absolutely non-negotiable, admiral says ó Iran calls U.S. sanctions 'economic war', says no talks until they are lifted ó Iran's Khamenei: Tehran will not abandon its missile programme ó Iran rejects French call for wider talks beyond nuclear deal: state TV ó Heinonen: Iran's nuclear scientists are 'the best of the best' ó 'U.S., Israel won't allow the likes of Saudis to acquire atomic bomb' ó Zarif lambasts 'conceited interpretation' of Resolution 2231 ó Iran's Zarif says nuclear deal talks with Germany were frank, serious ó Iran has accelerated production of enriched uranium, IAEA says ó IAEA chief worried about rising tension over Iran nuclear issue ó Iran to unveil phase II of stable isotopes on June 22 ó Tehran says placed no order for Russian S400 ó Zarif: Anyone who starts war on Iran will not be the one who ends it ó UN atomic watchdog chief worried about tensions over Iran's nuclear issue ó UN watchdog confirms Iran's promised uranium enrichment hike ó All nuclear deal parties must 'equally' honor their commitments: Iran ó Rouhani: Sanctions and pressure are starting to lose their effectiveness ó IAEA should see all aspect and be unbiased: Iranian diplomat ó New Chinese envoy submits credentials to Zarif ó Iran's Rouhani says security in the Gulf is highly important to Iran ó Iran calls for regional cooperation to protect strategic waterways - Fars ó Rouhani says Iran, China's resistance against U.S. unilateralism benefits world ó U.S. bullying has brought Iran, China, Russia closer together: Rouhani aide ó Iran months from hitting enriched uranium cap despite acceleration ó Iran fast-boats preventing towing of damaged Altair tanker: source ó Iran renews nuclear pact ultimatum amid tensions with U.S ó Everyone is concerned about fate of nuclear deal, Putin says ó INSTEX remains non-operational, Larijani says ó Iran cannot stick to nuclear deal unilaterally: Rouhani ó Iran urges U.S., allies to stop 'false flag operations' in region

H. ISRAEL ó Netanyahu tells Japan's Abe to pressure Iran as he prepares for Tehran visit ó Netanyahu: Zarif Is Lying; We Won't Allow Iran To Develop Nuclear Weapons ó Radioactive material leaked from Israel's nuclear reactor several times

I. SAUDI ARABIA ó Saudi Arabia, UAE, Norway tell UN Security Council tanker attacker 'most likely a state actor' ó Nuclear power the best solution for Saudi Arabia ó Saudi air defence intercepts two Houthi drones - SPA ó Stop Iran from expanding nuclear program: Saudi Arabia ó Riyadh meeting reviews enhancing Saudi-French nuclear cooperation ó Royal Saudi and US air forces carry out exercise over Arabian Gulf ó Crown Prince calls for decisive international position against Iran J. QATAR ó Qatar seeks thaw in US-Iran row ó Qatar urges de-escalation in U.S.-Iran row

K. UAE ó Understanding The Saudi, Uae Arms Deals And Iran ó Frontline oil tanker struck by torpedo off UAE coast - Tradewinds 5 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

ó State sponsor behind May tanker attacks, says UAE minister

L. TURKEY ó US gives Turkey July 31 deadline to scrap Russian S-400 missile defence system deal ó Turkish F-35 pilots no longer flying at U.S. base - Pentagon ó U.S. has not taken up offer to create S-400 working group, Turkey says ó Frontline oil tanker struck by torpedo off UAE coast - Tradewinds ó Erdogan spokesman Kalin says discussed F-35 letter with Bolton on phone ó Turkey says would retaliate against U.S. sanctions over Russian S-400s

EAST ASIA M. JAPAN ó Pro-nuclear incumbent Shingo Mimura wins fifth term in Aomori gubernatorial election ó Japan plans carbon emission cuts, more nuclear energy ó Abe pushing idea that Fukushima nuclear disaster is 'under control' ó Japan premier hopes to ease US-Iran tensions in Tehran visit ó Japan premier warns US, Iran 'accidental conflict' possible ó Tighter rules for drones spark fears about the right to know ó Abe to Khamenei: Trump does not want to escalate tensions ó Sendai reactor to stop due to delay in anti-terror upgrade work ó NRA safety license for Sendai reactors legal, Fukuoka court finds, dismissing volcano risk lawsuit

N. SOUTH KOREA ó President Moon pushes for summits with Xi, Abe Posted ó US state department aims for one-time solution to denuclearize North Korea ó Moon suggests trust-based denuclearization, peace ó Moon back in Korea after Northern Europe trip

O. NORTH KOREA ó North Korea's Kim visits factories linked to missile launches ó North Korea's former top nuclear envoy seen with Kim Jong Un - KCNA ó Exclusive: U.N. bid to curb North Korean missile tests, revive air traffic, delayed amid U.S. concerns - sources ó US urged to change its approach towards DPRK

P. CENTRAL, SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA ó Kazakhstan's chairmanship of the nuclear suppliers group in 2019-2020

Q. MISC ó We Can Tell You All of the Ways to Kill a Hypersonic Missile ó Slovenské elektrárne signs Russian fuel supply deal ó 5 Submarines That Could Kill Billions of People in Minutes ó Research funding awarded for fast reactor support ó IAEA focus on verification and development

R. OP-ED INDIA ó A blueprint for national security for Modi 2.0 govt ó The New India Versus The Nuclear Revolution: The Future Of Crises Among Nuclear Powers 6 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

ó Imran needs a change in strategy and new pair of spectacles to read Modi's India PAKISTAN ó Pakistan & Sino-US cold war ó Eyes on the prize USA ó Could Trump Trash The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty? ó Will Arms Control Foes Take Aim at Another Treaty? ó In Face-Off With Iran, Escalation May Depend on Who Prevails Inside Washington and Tehran RUSSIA ó Russia vs. Israel: The War That Could Become a Nuclear Disaster WEST ASIA ó Iran's isolation on the international stage is growing ó Iran rejects French call for wider talks beyond nuclear deal ó Qatar admits having different 'assessment' to US on Iran threat ó Germany must respond to its approach ó Post-JCPOA talks and the Deal of Century: Two sides of the same coin ó Nuclear Iran: Europe should get behind Trump ó Is It Too Late To Stop Iran's Permanent Presence In Syria? ó Stop Iran! ó Hezbollah's Most Devastating Threat to Israel? Not Its Missiles ó Washington Watch: Is Trump Helping The Saudis Go Nuclear? ó Syrian WMD Proliferation Could Set the Middle East on Fire ó Introducing Nuclear Weapons to the Middle East EAST ASIA ó Abe needs to convince Trump to ease tensions with Iran SOUTH KOREA ó From nukes toward democracy NORTH KOREA ó Third NK-US summit is possible despite lack of progress on denuclearization: analysts ó 'North Korea unlikely to change position on denuclearization'

S. THINK TANKS ó Nuclear Newcomers: Getting Organized for Success ó Important for Iran to Implement its JCPOA Commitments, IAEA Director General Says ó Wider Implementation of IAEA Code of Conduct to Enhance Safety and Security: Review Meeting Concludes ó Decision to keep nuclear weapons data classified hurts US national security ó Senior Operators, Regulators and Managers Discuss Best Practices at Beijing Meeting ó Trump Arms Control Plans Draw Criticism ó Despite Threat to Breach Limits, Iran Remains Below the Nuclear Deal's Caps

T. STATEMENTS ó DIA Statement on Lt. Gen. Ashley's Remarks at Hudson Institute ó U.S. military intelligence steps up accusation against Russia over nuclear testing

U. INTERVIEWS/REPORTS ó The drama and the facts about Chernobyl ó Full Text of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's Interview 7 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

A. India of Indian Army are planned to continue through the night. Shri Rajnath Singh Assumes Office of the Defence Minister http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1573296 PIB Delhi, June 1, 2019 Shri Rajnath Singh took over the Raksha Mantri Reviews Defence responsibility as the Defence Minister, today. Cooperation Mechanism On his arrival at the Ministry of Defence in PIB Delhi, June 6, 2019 South Block, Shri Rajnath Singh was received by the Minister of State for Defence Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, three Services’ reviewed activities of the Ministry of Chiefs, Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay Mitra, Defence. The RM was briefed regarding Chairman DRDO Dr G. Satheesh Reddy, Defence Cooperation activities with Secretary (Defence Production) Dr. Ajay Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs). He was Kumar and Mrs S Kutty, Secretary ESW. also briefed about planning activities of the Shri Rajnath Singh was Minister of Home Armed Forces including Tri-Services Affairs since May 27, 2014. agencies viz. HQ IDS and Defence Cyber Agency, Defence Space Agency and Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh was given Armed Forces Special Forces Division a brief presentation on the functioning of the which were approved by the CCS in 2019. MoD and all the four Departments of the He was also briefed about the Defence MoD namely Department of Defence, Planning Committee setup in 2018. Department of Defence Production, Department of Ex-serviceman Welfare and Raksha Mantri reviewed the policy matters Department of Research and Development pertaining to defence diplomacy including Organization. bilateral/multilateral exercises, capacity building, training, material assistance to http://pib.nic.in/ FFCs, etc. Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1573089 Shripad Yesso Naik, Defence Secretary Shri Sanjay Mitra and other senior officials IAF AN-32 Aircraft Missing of MoD were also present on the occasion. PIB Delhi, June 3, 2019 http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1573610 An AN-32 got airborne today from Jorhat at 1227 hrs for Mechuka Advanced Landing Wreckage of Missing An-32 Ground. The aircraft last contacted ground agencies at 1300 hrs (approx). Thereafter, Aircraft Located there was no contact with the aircraft. Since PIB Delhi, June 11, 2019 the aircraft did not reach the destination, overdue actions were initiated by Indian Air An An-32 of the Indian Air Force went Force. A total of eight aircrew and five missing on 03 Jun 2019 after getting airborne passengers were onboard the aircraft. C- from Air Force Station, Jorhat Assam. The 130, AN-32 aircraft, two Mi-17 of IAF and wreckage of the aircraft was spotted today Indian Army ALH helicopters were 16 Kms North of Lipo, North East of Tato launched to locate the missing aircraft. Some at an approximate elevation of 12000 ft ground reports were received on possible by the IAF Mi-17 Helicopter undertaking location of a crash site. Helicopters were search in the expanded search zone. routed to the location, however, no Efforts are now continuing to establish the wreckage has been sighted so far. IAF is status of occupants and establish survivors. coordinating with Indian Army as well as Further details will be communicated as various government and civil agencies to the recovery actions progress. locate the missing aircraft. The search operations from air and by ground parties http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1573893 8 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Dr. K Sivan, Chairman, ISRO briefs IAF to buy 100 more Balakot media in Bengaluru bombs, signs Rs 300 cr deal with PIB Delhi, June 12, 2019 Israel A Press Meet was organized today, at ISRO Manjeet Singh Negi, India Today, June 6, Headquarters, Bengaluru on the occasion of 2019 the forthcoming launch of India’s The Indian Air Force on Thursday signed Chandrayaan-2 mission to Moon. Dr K a deal worth around Rs 300 crore for Sivan, Chairman, ISRO addressed and buying more than 100 SPICE bombs from interacted with regional, national and Israel. international media persons during the meet. SPICE bomb has a standoff range of 60 Dr Sivan outlined ISRO’s vision on space kilometres and approaches the target as science and interplanetary missions. its unique scene-matching algorithm compares the electro-optical image Understanding the secrets of the inner solar received in real-time via the weapon seeker system is an aspiration of both national and with mission reference data stored in the international scientific community. weapon computer memory and adjusts Specifically talking about Chandrayaan-2, the flight path accordingly. SPICE 2000 he announced “The launch of consists of an add-on kit for warheads such Chandrayaan-2 onboard GSLV MkIII-M1 is as the MK-84, BLU-109, APW and RAP- planned on July 15, 2019 at 02.51 Hrs from 2000. Sriharikota”. Further, he said the soft landing of the Vikram lander of https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/iaf-to- Chandrayaan-2 on the Moon’s surface is buy-100-more-balakot-bombs-signs-rs-300-cr- likely to be on September 06, 2019. The deal-with-israel-1544063-2019-06-06 briefing included the scientific objectives, challenges and benefits of the mission. India sees new deals with Moscow http://pib.nic.in/ on nuclear energy, space & high PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1574068 tech as a priority – ambassador Anushree Fadnavis, Russian Times, June 7, DRDO launches Technology 2019 Demonstrator Vehicle India is set to diversify economic ties with PIB Delhi, June 12, 2019 Russia as new deals on the digital economy, nuclear energy, and space are Defence Research and Development expected to be sealed in September during Organisation (DRDO) Today launched a Prime Minister Modi’s visit, India’s Technology Demonstrator Vehicle to prove ambassador to Russia told RT. a number of critical technologies for futuristic missions from Dr Abdul Kalam The diplomat made the remarks during a Island off the coast of Odisha. major Russian economic forum, currently being held in Saint Petersburg. In an The missile was successfully launched at interview with RT, Bala Venkatesh Varma, 1127 Hours. Various radars, telemetry who was appointed India’s ambassador stations and electro optical tracking sensors to Russia in August 2018, hailed ”time- tracked the vehicle through its course. The tested historically friendly relations” between data has been collected and will be analysed the countries but insisted that both to validate the critical technologies. nations ”can do more.” http://pib.nic.in/ https://www.rt.com/news/461308-india-russia- PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1574035 deals-ambassador/ 9 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

BHEL secures Kudankulam contract India set to launch second lunar World Nuclear News, June 11, 2019 mission; land rover on the moon Indian company Bharat Heavy Electricals Chris Thomas, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Ltd (BHEL) has secured an INR440 crore Reuters, June 13, 2019 (USD64 million) order from Nuclear Power India said on Wednesday it will launch its Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to erect second lunar mission in mid-July, as it the turbine generator islands for moves to consolidate its status as a leader Kudankulam units 3 and 4. in space technology by achieving a controlled landing on the moon. The Russian-designed AES-92 VVER reactors are being built with Russian The mission, if successful, would make technical assistance as the first stage of phase India only the fourth country behind the 2 at the site in Tamil Nadu, which is already United States, Russia and China to home to two operating AES-92 units. BHEL perform a “soft” landing on the moon and performed a similar role at Kudankulam 1 put a rover on it. China successfully landed and 2, which the company says a lunar rover in January. “showcased” its capability in installing equipment designed and supplied by other The mission is scheduled to launch on July manufacturers. The turbines for the first two 15 aboard ISRO’s Geosynchronous Kudankulam units were made by Silmash Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III. It will in St Petersburg. cost about 10 billion rupees ($144 million), ISRO said. After a journey of more than http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/BHEL- 50 days, ISRO’s lander will attempt a secures-Kudankulam-contract “soft”, controlled landing on the lunar surface on around Sept. 6. India-Iran bilateral talks at sidelines of SCO summit to discuss “The last 15 minutes to the landing are way forward on US oil sanctions going to be the most terrifying moments for us,” ISRO Chairman K. Sivan told Geeta Mohan, India Today, June 12, 2019 media on Wednesday. The agency said variations in lunar gravity, terrain and dust India and Iran will hold a bilateral meeting could all cause problems. on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek to be held on June 13-14. https://in.reuters.com/article/space-exploration- india-moon/india-set-to-launch-second-lunar- This would be the first meeting between the mission-land-rover-on-the-moon- leadership of the two countries after Prime idINKCN1TE08O Minister Modi resumed office. Earlier, during the thick of elections, then External Affairs ISRO’s top milestones in recent Minister Sushma Swaraj had said that any years decision on Iran and its oil import to India would be taken after the elections. Deccan Herald, June 12, 2019

With tough US sanctions and no elbow room The Indian Space Research Organisation for a compromise on the ‘zero oil from Iran’ announced that Chandrayaan-2, its most policy of Washington, India did not place complex mission ever, will be launched on an order for oil since June. This is an issue July 15, according to Chairman K that has severely concerned Tehran. Sivan. The landing on the moon near the South Pole, an uncharted territory so far, https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/exclusive- would be on September 6 or 7, Sivan told india-iran-bilateral-talks-at-sidelines-of-sco- reporters. ISRO has launched 104 summit-to-discuss-way-forward-on-us-oil- spacecraft missions, including 3 nano- sanctions-1547710-2019-06-12 Satellites, 1 micro Satellite. They also have 10 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

completed 74 launch missions Including Pompeo also wants India to end its reliance Scramjet-TD & RLV-TD. on Venezuelan and Iranian crude by purchasing Liquefied Natural Gas and https://www.deccanherald.com/national/isros-top- constructing six US-made nuclear power milestones-in-recent-years-739800.html plants. DRDO conducts maiden test of https://www.rt.com/news/461750-pompeo- hypersonic technology demonstrator india-trip-offers/ The Hindu, June 12, 2019 SCO Summit 2019 Live Updates: The Defence Research and Development PM Modi to meet Iran president Organisation (DRDO) on Wednesday Hassan Rouhani conducted the maiden test of an indigenously developed Hypersonic Hindustan Times, June 14, 2019 Technology Demonstrator Vehicle (HSTDV) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to along with several technologies on meet president of Kazakhstan Kassym- Wednesday morning. Jomart Tokayev today and hold bilateral meeting with Iranian President Hassan “The DRDO launched a technology Rouhani. PM Modi yesterday met Chinese demonstrator vehicle to prove a number of president Xi Jinping and said that Pakistan critical technologies for futuristic missions is yet to take “concrete action” on India’s from Dr Abdul Kalam Island off the coast concerns and create an atmosphere free of Odisha,” the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of terrorism, which is necessary to said without identifying what the facilitate any possible engagement technology demonstrator was or if it met the between the two sides. objectives. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessed the launch. PM Modi is scheduled to meet president Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus and https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/drdo- president Khaltmaagiin Battulga of conducts-maiden-test-of-hypersonic-technology- Mongolia today. demonstrator/article27890922.ece https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/ Pompeo woos India with ‘secure’ pm-modi-at-sco-summit-2019-live-updates/ 5G, arms sales & nuke project after story-tMyi4mIvznTtq6bxX0nseL.html recent tensions Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Nicholas Kamm, Russian Times, June 13, reviews DRDO projects, was 2019 present at Balasore launch on 12 As the US warns India against buying June Russian anti-air systems, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is gearing up for a trip to New Firstpost, June 14, 2019 Delhi, where he will try to sell American 5G Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday tech, LNG gas, and arms to Narendra Modi’s reviewed the ongoing and future projects government. of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Adamant that India and the US share a common vision ”throughout the Indo- The defence minister had, on 12 June, Pacific,” Washington wants New Delhi to witnessed the launch of Technology prove its commitment to US interests by Demonstrator missile vehicle in Balasore purchasing an entire lineup of US products conducted by premier defence research and services, Mike Pompeo hinted on agency. Besides Rajnath, Secretary Wednesday ahead of his trip to the country (Defence Production) Ajay Kumar was on June 25. also present at the test firing range. 11 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

“The missile was launched successfully. harming regional peace and stability.” Various sensors have been placed on the missile, through which a large number of China translates the Chinese word “tong data has been gathered for various missile yi” as “reunification”, but it can also be subsystems. That data will be analyzed to translated as “unification”, a term in validate the critical technologies for the English preferred by Taiwan purpose the said vehicle was launched,” independence supporters who say the DRDO sources said. Communist government has never ruled the island, so it cannot be “reunified”. https://www.firstpost.com/india/defence-minister- rajnath-singh-reviews-drdo-projects-was-present- https://in.reuters.com/article/asia-security- at-balasore-launch-on-12-june-6813761.html china/china-says-u-s-actions-on-taiwan-south- china-sea-threaten-stability-idINKCN1T230M B. China China rebuts U.S. acting defense China’s national supercomputing secretary’s remarks on Taiwan, center launches AI testbed South China Sea Xinhua, June 1, 2019 Xinhua, June 1,2019 China’s National Supercomputing Center in China firmly objected to the U.S. side’s the south China city of Shenzhen on Friday remarks on Taiwan and the South China launched a testbed for artificial intelligence Sea while welcoming the U.S. statement (AI) experiments. The AI testbed, named Tai, of continuing to develop and stabilize the provides the basic environment of AI chips bilateral military relationship, a senior and systems for the research, development Chinese military official said here and application tests of AI inventions. Saturday. Taiwan has been an inseparable part of China since ancient times. Tai is capable of dealing with large-scale and complex scenarios. Scientists have built an He reiterated that China must and will EB-level intelligent data management and certainly realize unification. If someone analysis system for high-energy physics, as desires to separate Taiwan from China, the well as simulation of AI scenarios in real Chinese military will steadfastly safeguard business situations and an AI-powered the unity of the motherland at all costs. weather forecast platform. Commenting on Shanahan’s remarks of accusing China of sabotaging freedom of http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/01/ navigation and pushing forward the c_138108243.htm militarization of islands and reefs in the South China Sea, Shao said that China has China says U.S. actions on Taiwan, indisputable sovereignty over the islands South China Sea threaten stability and reefs and their neighboring waters in the South China Sea, based on sufficient Reuters, June 1, 2019 historical and legal facts.

The United States’ actions on Taiwan and http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/30/ the South China Sea are hardly conducive c_138103566.htm to maintaining stability in the region, a senior Chinese military official said on China makes 3-point proposal on Saturday, responding to comments by acting enhancing defense cooperation in U.S. Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan. Asia-Pacific “He (Shanahan) has been expressing Xinhua, June 2, 2019 inaccurate views and repeating old tunes about the issues of Taiwan and the South China on Saturday made a three-point China Sea,” Shao Yuanming, a senior official proposal on enhancing defense of the People’s Liberation Army, told cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region at reporters after Shanahan’s speech. “This is the Shangri-La Dialogue being held here. 12 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Addressing a special session on “New Model Do you believe in UFOs? China of defense cooperation” during the dialogue, hints at test of new missile Major General Ci Guowei, chief of the Office for International Military Cooperation of Reuters, June 4, 2019 China’s Ministry of National Defense, said With a cryptic message about UFOs and a China is fully aware that its peaceful picture of a missile launcher, China’s development is closely linked with the future military has hinted that it has carried out of the Asia-Pacific. “We advocate active a test of a new missile, after images of an bilateral and multilateral security dialogue object streaking towards the sky circulated and cooperation, and strive to facilitate on Chinese social media. regional cooperation in both economy and security,” Ci said. “China adopts a holistic The People’s Liberation Army typically approach to security governance that does not announce new missile tests, but addresses both symptoms and root causes. occasionally drops hints about what it is China’s proposals on the Asia-Pacific up to, amid a massive modernisation push security architecture are meant to complete championed by President Xi Jinping to and improve the existing mechanisms rather ramp up combat capabilities. than overturn them and start all over again,” he said. To this end, China proposes three On Sunday, footage circulated on China’s points in enhancing defense cooperation in Weibo microblogging service of an object the region, he said. travelling up into the sky, leaving a white trail behind it, over the Bohai Sea, partly http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/02/ closed at the time for military drills. That c_138109132.htm caused some Chinese internet users to wonder if it was a UFO, though most China reiterates support for Iran’s thought it was probably the test of a new nuclear deal: Xinhua underwater launched ballistic missile. “Do you believe in this world there are UFOs?” Reuters, June 3, 2019 it wrote in the caption, without offering China has reiterated its support for Iran’s further explanation. 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and https://in.reuters.com/article/china-defence- said that implementing it is the only way to missiles/do-you-believe-in-ufos-china-hints-at- resolve the Iran nuclear issue, official Xinhua test-of-new-missile-idINKCN1T50Q3 news agency said on Monday, citing a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. Carrier rocket’s sea launch safer, In May 2018 President Donald Trump cheaper: experts pulled the United States out of the accord Xu Keyue, Global Times, June 5, 2019 between Iran and six powers including Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, Despite a complicated marine then reimposed tough U.S. sanctions on Iran, environment, China successfully launched saying the deal was flawed. a Long March-11 carrier rocket at sea for the first time on Wednesday, which Under the agreement, reached before Trump experts hailed as a safer and more took office, Iran reined in its uranium economical way of rocket launch. enrichment programme in exchange for a lifting of most international sanctions The rocket blasted off from a platform on imposed on the Islamic Republic. a large semi-submersible barge in the Yellow Sea, media reported, noting that it https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-china/ also successfully sent two technology china-reiterates-support-for-irans-nuclear-deal- experiment satellites and five commercial xinhua-idINKCN1T42D5 satellites into a preset orbit. This launch marks the first time for China to combine aerospace and marine technology, 13 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

achieving a breakthrough in the safety, Xi told TASS news agency and stability and reliability of launching at sea. Rossiyskaya Gazeta newspaper that The rocket was named “CZ-11 WEY” by the because of the “extreme pressure” China Academy of Launch Vehicle Washington has put on Tehran and the Technology, China Space Foundation and unilateral sanctions, tensions have a Chinese automobile producer, the Xinhua continued to rise in the Middle East. News Agency reported. https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-china/ http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ chinas-xi-says-iran-tensions-worrying-calls-for- 1153209.shtml restraint-idINKCN1T603P

China launches rocket from ship at Xi expounds China’s position on sea for first time Syrian conflict, Venezuelan crisis, Iran’s nuclear issue Reuters, June 5, 2019 Xinhua, June 5, 2019 China successfully launched a rocket from a ship at sea for the first time on Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping expounded state media reported, the latest step forward China’s position on the Syrian conflict, the in its ambitious space program. The Long Venezuelan crisis and Iran’s nuclear issue March 11 rocket blasted off from a platform during a joint interview with Russian on a large semi-submersible barge in the media. Syria is a country home to one of Yellow Sea just after midday (0400 GMT), the most ancient civilizations with a long state media said. The small rocket, designed history, and it is also an important country to be deployed quickly and from mobile in the Middle East. In recent years, the launch sites such as a ship, carried seven situation in Syria continued to be satellites, including one that measures sea- turbulent, with its infrastructure seriously surface winds to forecast typhoons. China damaged and people suffering deeply, has made its space program a top priority which was very saddening, he said. As the in recent years as it races to catch up with process of finding a political solution to the the United States and become a major space conflict is forging ahead and the Syrian power by 2030. Beijing plans to begin government and people are starting to construction of its own manned space rebuild their homeland, China stands station next year. ready to participate in Syria’s reconstruction within its own ability and https://in.reuters.com/article/us-china-space/ do the best to help the Syrian people china-launches-rocket-from-ship-at-sea-for-first- resume their normal life and production time-idINKCN1T60GW soon, the Chinese president said.

China’s Xi says Iran tensions On the Venezuelan crisis, Xi said China worrying, calls for restraint holds that relevant issues should be solved by the ruling party and the opposition Reuters, June 5, 2019 through inclusive political dialogue and A rise in tensions in the Middle East owing consultation within the framework of to U.S. pressure on Iran is worrying and all Venezuela’s constitution. China opposes parties need to exercise restraint, Chinese foreign intervention and unilateral President Xi Jinping told Russian media sanctions and is against using force or ahead of a visit to the country. threats of force, he said. China is willing to make joint efforts with the international Tensions between Iran and the United States community to play a positive and have escalated in the past month, a year constructive role in the Venezuelan crisis, after the United States pulled out of a deal make more endeavors to promote between Iran and global powers to curb reconciliation and dialogue, jointly defend Tehran’s nuclear programme in return for international equity and justice, safeguard lifting sanctions. the tenor and principles of the UN Charter, 14 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

and help Venezuela return to the normal It is rare to see so many DF-21Ds gathered track of development soon, he said. together, and 10 could be enough to do serious damage to a hostile aircraft carrier, While talking about Iran’s nuclear issue, Xi military observers said. Together with the said the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action DF-21D, China’s DF-26 ballistic missile (JCPOA) is a fruit of multilateralism which can reach targets even further at sea, is critical to the international nuclear according to reports. Analysts said that nonproliferation system as well as peace and both events are demonstrations of China’s stability in the Middle East, and should be strategic deterrence capability and respected and implemented fully and determination to safeguard territorial effectively. He said China holds a highly integrity amid recent US military consistent view and position with Russia on provocations in the Taiwan Straits and the the Iranian nuclear issue, expecting relevant South China Sea. parties to keep rational and restraint, increase dialogue and consultation and cool http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ down the tensions for the moment. 1153200.shtml

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/05/ China completes first offshore c_138116801.htm rocket launch BeiDou satellite expo opens in East Xinhua, June 5, 2019 China A Long March-11 solid propellant carrier Xinhua, June 5, 2019 rocket is launched from a mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea off east China’s A satellite exposition opened Tuesday in Shangdong Province, June 5, 2019. China Nanjing, capital city of East China’s Jiangsu successfully launched a rocket from a province, displaying the latest navigation mobile launch platform in the Yellow Sea technologies and products of BeiDou off Shandong Province on Wednesday, satellites. The three-day exposition, the sending two technology experiment second China (Nanjing) BeiDou Satellite satellites and five commercial satellites into Navigation Application Expo, will attract space. A Long March-11 solid propellant 200 exhibitors and 5,000 visitors, according carrier rocket blasted off at 12:06 p.m. to its organizer. from the mobile platform. It is China’s first http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/04/ space launch from a sea-based platform c_138116519.htm and the 306th mission of the Long March carrier rocket series.

China showcases cluster of ‘aircraft http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/05/ carrier killer’ missiles c_138118602_2.htm Global Times, June 5, 2019 PLA Army holds first competition In a rare move, the People’s Liberation Army for border and coastal ship-and- (PLA) Rocket Force displayed 10 DF-21D boat troops anti-ship ballistic missiles in a recent video, as China reaffirmed the weapon’s capability Liu Xiaohong, Zhang Wei, China Military of attacking medium- to large-sized vessels. Online, June 5, 2019 The 10 DF-21D missiles can be seen erected into launch positions in a promotional video The Army’s “Crossing Rivers and Seas of the PLA Rocket Force, Weihutang, a 2019” Competition organized by the column on the military affiliated with China Chinese PLA Military Transportation Central Television. This type of weapon can Academy kicked off on June 4 in serve as a trump card in naval asymmetrical Zhenjiang, east China’s Jiangsu Province. combat, as it is capable of attacking More than 100 competitors from the medium- to large-sized vessels from land, border and coastal defense troops of the the report said. PLA Ground Force attended the 15 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

competition including more than 20 items controlled 3.34 million host computers in within4 subjects. China; and the number of servers increased 90.8 percent year-on-year, the http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-06/05/ Xinhua News Agency reported. content_9523964.htm The Cyberspace Administration of China China to complete BeiDou-3 (CAC) drafted a new regulation in May, satellite system by 2020 which states that if acquisitions of products and services disrupt key Xinhua, June 6, 2019 information infrastructure, or lead to China’s BeiDou-3 system, a global major losses of personal information and geolocation network, is expected to be important data, or pose other security risks, completed in 2020, with a total of 35 they must be reported to the CAC’s satellites, researchers at a conference on the cybersecurity review office. China has likewise issued cryptosecurity policies, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) such as banning the use of US-made said. China has deployed three systems, terminal equipment on certain occasions BDS-1, BDS-2 and BDS-3, to provide accurate positioning and navigation services and places, the expert noted. to the world, said Jin Shuanggen, a http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ researcher at Shanghai Astronomical 1153777.shtml Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, at the second China (Nanjing) BeiDou Xi, Putin meet in St. Petersburg Satellite Navigation Application Expo and Beidou Summit Forum. Xinhuanet, June 7, 2019 The BDS system, independently constructed Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his and operated by China, currently has 38 in- Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on orbit satellites including 18 BDS-2 and 20 Thursday here in the latter’s hometown. BDS-3. As a space infrastructure of national Putin invited Xi to a cruise tour on the Neva significance, the BDS provides all-time, all- River. Welcoming Xi to his hometown weather and high-accuracy positioning, again, Putin introduced to the guest local navigation and timing services to global users, customs as well as the buildings on both according to a white paper on the system. sides of the river. The two presidents talked about the history and current situation of http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/06/ the ancient city along the sightseeing tour, WS5cf8a75ea31017657722fe05.html pledging to promote cultural and people- to-people exchanges between the Chinese Most cyber attacks from the US: and Russian people so as to enhance report mutual understanding and friendship.

Sun Haoran and Zhao Yusha, Global Times, http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/07/ June 6, 2019 c_138124790.htm A Chinese report warned on Monday that most cyber attacks against Chinese networks China’s ‘artificial sun’ to in 2018 came from the US, which Chinese challenge 200 million degrees experts predicted that the latter is preparing Celsius to wage a large-scale “cyber war” but China is prepared to launch a strong counterattack. Global Times, June 7, 2019 The information came from an annual report The coil system in China’s largest Tokamak, released by China’s National Computer also known as the fusion device, is ready Network Emergency Response Technical for service, China National Nuclear Team (CNCERT) on Monday. The CNCERT Corporation (CNNC) announced on said that in 2018, 14,000 servers in the US Wednesday. As one of the major infected by a Trojan virus or botnet components, the settled coil system has 16 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

paved the way for the wrap-up construction China’s lunar rover travels over of the next-generation “artificial sun,” 212 meters on moon’s far side known as HL-2M. The new apparatus can reach an electron temperature of over 200 Xinhua, June 10, 2019 million degrees Celsius and an ion China’s lunar rover Yutu-2 has driven temperature of 150 million Celsius in its core 212.99 meters on the far side of the moon plasma, according to its developer to conduct scientific exploration on the Southwestern Institute of Physics (affiliated virgin territory. Both the lander and the to CNNC). rover of the Chang’e-4 probe switched to The device is expected to be finished by the its dormant mode for the lunar night late end of the year, Duan Xuru, an official at on Sunday (Beijing time), according to the the China National Nuclear Corporation, Lunar Exploration and Space Program announced during this year’s Two Sessions. Center of the China National Space Like most stars, the sun is made up mostly Administration. of hydrogen and helium atoms in a plasma A lunar day equals 14 days on Earth, a state. It generates power from a process lunar night the same length. The Chang’e- called nuclear fusion, which is also the 4 probe switches to dormant mode during earliest fusion reaction scientists have ever the lunar night due to lack of solar power. discovered. “Artificial sun” is simply a During the sixth lunar day of the probe controllable fusion reactor apparatus on the moon, the scientific instruments on designed to generate energy by mimicking the lander and rover worked well, and the nuclear fusion process of our real sun. about 1,654 MB of scientific detection data The project aims to use magnetic force to were sent to the core research team for combine atoms, which in turn release the analysis. As a result of the tidal locking tremendous energy in a safe, controllable effect, the moon’s revolution cycle is the manner. same as its rotation cycle, and the same http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ side always faces Earth. The far side of the 1153395.shtml moon has unique features, and scientists expect Chang’e-4 could bring Air-defense missile system fires at breakthrough findings. targets in desert http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/10/ China Military Online, June 7, 2019 c_138131399.htm Artillerymen assigned to an air-defense New radar system immune to brigade under the PLA 72nd Group Army ‘radar killer’ missiles rush to their positions after erecting HQ-16 medium-range air defense missiles during a Liu Xuanzun, Global Times, June 10, 2019 live-fire operation at a depopulated area in China’s maritime early warning radar northwest China’s Gobi desert system is immune to “radar killer” missiles and is capable of detecting stealth aircraft, according to its developer in a recent interview with media. The maritime radar system, developed by a team led by Chinese academician Liu Yongtan, can detect naval and aerial hostiles hundreds of kilometers away under any weather condition. It features high frequency electromagnetic waves that have long wavelengths and wide beams, Liu said in an interview with the Naval and Merchant Ships magazine published this http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-06/12/ month. While electromagnetic waves content_9528767_3.htm 17 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

emitted by a normal radar travel in straight the commercial space sector’s sound lines and, since the Earth is round, cannot development, industry representatives help see what is beyond the horizon, the high told the Global Times on Tuesday. It also frequency ones used by Liu’s radar travel encourages private rocket companies to along the sea surface, and he said this makes take full advantage of national resources it possible to detect and monitor vessels and in terms of rich technology research, aircraft beyond visual range. production equipment and facilities, and launch sites. “The specifics give a clear http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ direction for China’s commercial space 1153725.shtml industry, clarifying the qualifications, operational boundaries and national Private space companies draw guarantees, which will be conducive to the inspiration from successful rocket sector’s healthy and orderly development,” launch at sea Shu Chang, CEO of Beijing-based commercial rocket pioneer OneSpace China Daily, June 11, 2019 Technology, told the Global Times on Tuesday. “Meanwhile, we hope regulators China’s “CZ-11 WEY” rocket was can strengthen guidance over us and jointly successfully launched at sea for the first time build a more open, flexible and efficient on Wednesday, giving a much needed boost cooperation mechanism for the sector’s to the country’s space industry. Although sustainable development,” said Shu. the rocket was designed and built by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ Technology - part of a state-owned space 1153918.shtml conglomerate - the country’s private rocket companies enthusiastically cheered its Shanghai plans to build hydrogen successful launch. fuel cells center After two failed attempts to send satellites Global Times, June 11, 2019 into targeted orbits, the Chinese private space sector is waiting for a successful Shanghai plans to build a world-class carrier rocket launch. This has resulted in a “hydrogen energy harbor” in its Jiading great deal of attention being paid to iSpace, district, the center of its automobile also known as Beijing Interstellar Glory industry, to cultivate a sound industrial Space Technology, a pioneer in the domestic chain for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles private rocket sector, which is expected to (HFCV), the Xinhua News Agency launch its first carrier rocket in mid or late reported Tuesday. The hydrogen energy June. “We really hope iSpace can succeed harbor will form an industrial cluster with this time to help bolster confidence in the a planned area of 2.15 square kilometers. entire sector,” Shu Chang, CEO of another The district has set a target that its whole private rocket maker, OneSpace HFCV industrial chain will exceed 50 Technology, told the Global Times in an billion yuan ($7.23 billion) in annual exclusive interview in late April, after the production by 2025, according to Xinhua. company failed in its attempt to send a satellite into orbit. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ 1153888.shtml http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/regional/chongqing/ liangjiang/2019-06/11/content_37479304.htm China strengthens technological cooperation with central Asian China rolls out rules for commercial countries space sector Xinhua, June 12, 2019 Zhang Hongpei, Global Times, June 11, 2019 China’s technological cooperation with China rolled out rules for the first time to central Asian countries including regulate commercial rocket manufacturing, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has yielded test flights and launches, a move to boost fruitful results, according to the Chinese 18 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Academy of Sciences (CAS). CAS Research aboard nine international scientific Center for Ecology and Environment of projects from 17 countries covering a wide Central Asia has cooperated with local range of research areas, including space governments in Kyrgyzstan to conduct life sciences and biotechnology, demonstration projects in improving microgravity physics and astronomy, the drinking water safety. They introduced new China Manned Space Agency and the water purification equipment to tackle United Nations Office for Outer Space excessive heavy metals and microorganisms Affairs announced on Wednesday in in drinking water, benefiting local residents. Vienna. It is the first time that a China space mission has invited all members of Researchers from both China and Tajikistan the United Nations to conduct have jointly conducted remote sensing experiments, and is a milestone in the monitoring of lakes. They also stepped up advancement of China’s manned space cooperation in glacier survey, hydrology and program from independent development water resources utilization, biodiversity and to global cooperation, said Lin Xiqiang, the ecosystem change, disaster warning and the agency’s deputy director. application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The space station will provide external platforms for experimental payloads and http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/ 16 experiment racks inside the cabin that 12/c_138137275.htm can support 11 disciplines, such as space Korean Peninsula issue still within medicine, life science, microgravity physics and material science. The selected the framework of political solution: applicants also are welcome to bring their spokesperson own experimental facilities or payloads Xinhua, June 12, 2019 either inside or outside the station, and China will help transport and assemble the China called on related countries to facilities in orbit, Lyu said. continue making efforts to realize denuclearization and sustained peace on the http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/12/ Korean Peninsula through negotiations, a WS5d0106d9a310176577230d2c.html Foreign Ministry spokesperson. In response, spokesperson Geng Shuang said the meeting China’s envoy calls for return to between the leaders of DPRK and the JCPOA track United States in Singapore made important progress in the political settlement of the China Military Online, June 12, 2019 Korean Peninsula issue.It is China’s hope H. E. Mr. Wang Qun, Permanent that all parties concerned will keep contacts, Representative and Ambassador meet each other half way, and address the Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the legitimate concerns of all parties, to Permanent Mission of the People’s ultimately realize denuclearization and Republic of China(PRC) to the United lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, Geng Nations(UN) and other International said. China will continue to work with the Organizations in Vienna, called on parties international community and play a related to return to the track of full constructive in the process, he added. implementation of the Joint http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/12/ Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) c_138137790.htm Amb. Wang said that the Iran nuclear deal is a multilateral agreement approved by International projects set for space the UN Security Council and should be implemented steadily and station comprehensively. Regrettably, due to the Zhang Yangfei And Chen Weihua, China US extreme pressure and unilateral Daily, June 12, 2019 sanctions, the implementation of the agreement is facing severe challenges, and The China Space Station is set to welcome tensions continue in the Middle East. 19 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

The IAEA’s latest quarterly report confirmed Newly-launched ‘Jilin-1’ satellite for the 15th time that Iran has fulfilled its sends back images nuclear obligations stipulated in the agreement. The Chinese side highly China Daily, June 14, 2019 appreciates the efforts of the IAEA and Iran. High-resolution satellite “Jilin-1” 03A sent Amb. Wang pointed out that under the back its first images on June 6, after being current situation, China expects Iran to launched into space on the Long March continue to fully fulfill its nuclear 11 rocket over the Yellow Sea at 12:06 on obligations, and also expects the IAEA to June 5. The satellite, independently continue to conduct supervision and developed by Changchun-based Chang verification in an objective, fair and Guang Satellite Technology Co Ltd, is part professional manner. of the “Jilin-1” satellite family, of which http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-06/12/ 12 others are currently in orbit. It is able content_9528975.htm to take detailed photographs and provide remote sensing information services for US gift to China questions Chinese government and industries, as well as countries involved in the Belt and enforcement of N. Korea sanctions Road Initiative. Lolita C. Baldor, AP News, June 12, 2019 The meeting between acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and his Chinese counterpart began with all the hallmarks of a routine staged and scripted session between two uneasy rivals. Shanahan presented Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe with a gift. But what at first glance looked like a coffee table book was actually 32 pages of photographs and satellite images of North Satellite image of a thermal power plant Korean ships getting and delivering shipments in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous of oil. Many of the photos are stamped with region taken by “Jilin-1” 03A dates, times, locations and descriptions, and, according to officials, represent proof that http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/2016jilin/ Pyongyang is violating punishing economic 2019-06/14/content_37480838.htm sanctions right off China’s coast. Heads of Chinese and Foreign “I gave him this beautiful book,” Shanahan Ground Force Academies said a day after his meeting with Wei and exchange on military education his top staff at a national security conference in Singapore. “I said this is an area where China Military Online, June 14, 2019 you and I can cooperate.” The pointed Under the theme of “Cultivating the message from the acting Pentagon chief Army’s Growing Officers in a Changing comes as the Trump administration is at odds Era”, the 2019 Symposium for Presidents with China over a wide range of issues, of Army Academies was opened at the including trade, Chinese theft of American PLA Ground Force Engineering University technology, the possible sale of U.S. weapons in Nanjing, the provincial capital of to Taiwan and how to pressure North Korea China’s east Province of Jiangsu. Leaders into giving up its nuclear weapons program. of 7 foreign military academies, including China agreed to the U.N. sanctions against the Black Needle Military Academy of its ally and neighbor North Korea, but, as Brazil, the Military Science and the photo book illustrates, appears to be Technology College of Egypt, the National allowing violations to take place. Defense Academy of Japan, the Mexican https://www.apnews.com/ Army and Air Force University, the b64e8c8048da4f1f81463c1d08b63b23 Nigerian National Defense Academy, the 20 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

South African Military Academy, and the For his part, Rouhani said the Iran-China Thai Chulachomklao Royal Military relationship carries a long-term and Academy, as well as 12 PLA’s Ground Force strategic significance. Iran is willing to Academies attended the exchange activities. participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and tap potential of cooperation in various The President of PLA Ground Force fields, he said. Rouhani expressed Iran’s Engineering University, organizer of the resolute opposition to the unilateral forum, said that in the new era featuring ever- withdrawal of the United States from the emerging new knowledge, new technologies Iran nuclear deal, calling it “a wrong and new theories, the ground force would action.” He praised China’s active role in accelerate its development towards the international affairs, and said his country informationization, intellectualization and is ready to strengthen communication and unmanned operation. coordination with China. http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-06/14/ http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/14/ content_9530925.htm c_138143632.htm

Beijing ready to join Tehran for SCO Bishkek declaration calls for steadfast comprehensive strategic enhanced cooperation to promote partnership peace, development Xinhua, June 14, 2019 Xinhua, June 14, 2019 Chinese President Xi Jinping said here Friday Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation that Beijing is ready to join efforts with Organization (SCO) member states issued Tehran in promoting a steady development a declaration here on Friday at an annual of bilateral comprehensive strategic summit, calling for enhanced cooperation partnership. Xi noted that he exchanged in- to promote peace and development. New depth views with Rouhani on the China- development centers are emerging in Asia Iran relationship, as well as regional and and the global balance of forces is going international issues of common concern through a reconfiguration, said the during the SCO summit in China’s eastern document. The situation in global politics port city of Qingdao last year, and they have and economy remains tense, and the reached important consensus. process of economic globalization is being The Chinese president called on the two sides hindered by the growing unilateralism and to strengthen strategic communication and protectionism, and other challenges in support each other on issues concerning international trade, it read. their respective core interests, adding that The member states also pledge to the two countries also need to step up strengthen exchange in the scientific, coordination and conduct practical technical, cultural and tourism areas, cooperation properly. He also urged the two promote interactions among young sides to enhance cooperation in such areas people, contribute to the further as anti-terrorism and combating cross- strengthening of neighborliness, friendship border crimes, and jointly clamp down the and cooperation. “three forces” of terrorism, separatism and extremism, including East Turkistan Islamic http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/14/ Movement. China supports maintaining the c_138144314.htm Iran nuclear deal, said Xi, and is willing to step up coordination with Iran within such ‘One country, two systems’ in multilateral frameworks as the United Taiwan ‘over my dead body:’ Han Nations and the SCO to jointly safeguard Kuo-yu basic norms of the international relations and multilateralism and preserve shared Taiwan News, June 16, 2019 interests of developing countries, including China and Iran. “‘One country, two systems’ can never be 21 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

implemented in Taiwan. Taiwanese people agricultural reporting. From August 1, the can never accept it, unless, unless, unless it’s CCTV-7 Military and Agricultural over my dead body,” Han told tens of Channel will become the CCTV-7 thousands of supporters at a rally in Douliu National Defense and Military Channel. An in Yunlin County, saying “over my dead insider at CCTV told the Global Times that body” in English. At the rally, Han of the the Chinese national broadcaster is setting opposition Kuomintang (KMT) led the crowd up an agricultural and rural channel. in chanting “reject ‘one country, two systems’” and asked his supporters to have http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ faith in him. “If I am given the opportunity to 1154464.shtml lead the Republic of China and become the president of the Republic of China, I promise C. Pakistan that ‘one country, two systems’ will never be H.E Mr Mohamed Karmoune, carried out on the land of Taiwan,” Han said. Ambassador of Morocco called on https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3725072 General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chairman JCS Committee. Global AI chip market to grow tenfold in next five years: white ISPR, No PR-114/2019-ISPR, June 1, 2019 paper H.E Mr Mohamed Karmoune, Ambassador of Morocco called on General Xinhua, June 17, 2019 Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chairman JCS The global market for mobile artificial Committee. Matters of bilateral security intelligence (AI) chips is expected to reach and defence cooperation between both the $3.8 billion in 2022, a tenfold growth from countries were discussed during the the 2017 figure, said a white paper. The meeting. market expansion is driven by the fast https://www.ispr.gov.pk/press-release- development of AI industry, as AI chips saw detail.php?id=5324 rapid penetration into the terminal sector, said the white paper on mobile AI technologies and application released by the US urges Pakistan to improve ties China Academy of Information and with India Communications Technology (CAICT). AI Dawn, June 10, 2019 development will also drive innovation of the mobile chip industry, said the white The United States has urged Pakistan to paper, citing Strategic Analytics data, which take “sustained and irreversible steps” to showed that the market share of improve ties with India by enhancing its smartphone apps processors with on-device efforts to eradicate militancy from the AI in the first quarter of 2018 grew threefold region. from the same period of previous year. A White House official made these http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201906/17/ remarks while talking to Indian journalists WS5d07064aa3103dbf143289e1.html in Washington this week, as Pakistan renewed its efforts to engage India in CCTV to dedicate channel to direct talks for reducing tensions with its military affairs to promote national eastern neighbour. defense education Since the re-election of Narendra Modi as Hu Yuwei, Global Times, June 16, 2019 India’s prime minister last month, Prime Minister Imran Khan has sent two letters China Central Television (CCTV) Channel to New Delhi, underlining Islamabad’s 7 is to refocus its coverage solely on military desire for better relations between South affairs in a move to expand national defense Asia’s two nuclear-armed neighbours. publicity and education. Currently, the channel specializes in both military and https://www.dawn.com/news/1487238 22 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Musharraf pressured me to read US 2018 uranium purchase figures statement on nuclear proliferation, released claims Dr Qadeer World Nuclear News, June 3, 2019 Rana Yasif, The Express tribune, June 15, 2019 Owners and operators of US civilian In a letter written to the Lahore High Court nuclear power reactors purchased a total chief justice, the pioneer of Pakistan’s of 40 million pounds U3O8 equivalent nuclear programme Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan (U3O8e) (15,386 tU) of deliveries during claimed that former president General (retd) 2018, according to the latest uranium Pervez Musharraf, under the influence of marketing report from the US Energy the United States, had pressured on him to Information Administration (EIA). Nearly read a statement written by him [Musharraf] 10% of that was US-origin uranium. on the television. Total deliveries were 6% lower than 2017’s According to Dr Qadeer, Musharraf had figure of 43 million pounds U3O8e, the promised him that the nuclear scientist EIA’s Uranium Marketing Annual Report would be restored after a few days of the found. Canada, at 9.6 million pounds, was speech but Musharraf did not abide by his the largest single country supplier to the promise. Former prime minister Chaudhry USA in 2018, followed by Kazakhstan at Shujaat Hussain and lawyer SM Zafar were 8.2 million pounds and Australia, at 7.2 also witnesses in this matter, he added. million pounds. The remainder came from Russia (5.4 million pounds), Uzbekistan https://tribune.com.pk/story/1993014/1- (2.5 million pounds) and Namibia (2.2 musharraf-pressured-read-statement-nuclear- million pounds). US-origin purchases profileration-claims-dr-qadeer/ were 3.9 million pounds.

D. USA http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US- 2018-uranium-purchase-figures-released Trump Administration Says It Will Negotiate With Iran With ‘No Supposedly executed former North Preconditions’ Korean nuclear envoy is alive: Edward Wong, The New York Times, June 2, CNN 2019 Reuters, June 4, 2019 In a second major softening of American North Korea’s nuclear envoy, who a South policy toward Iran in recent days, Secretary Korean newspaper said last week had of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that the been executed, is alive but in custody and Trump administration was ready to under investigation for his role in a failed negotiate with the country’s clerical leaders summit with the United States, CNN with “no preconditions.” reported on Tuesday.

The statement followed President There has been a series of conflicting Trump’s comment last week that he was reports over the past five days about ready to talk to Iranian leaders and was not shakeups in the North’s team that steered seeking regime change, overruling a negotiations with the United States after longtime goal of his national security adviser. a failed summit between North Korean Mr. Pompeo’s statement also recalibrated his leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President earlier position that the United States would Donald Trump in Hanoi in February. not lift sanctions on Iran unless it complied with a dozen sweeping demands, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- suggesting that those demands could be part usa-purge/supposedly-executed-former-north- of negotiations instead of preconditions. korean-nuclear-envoy-is-alive-cnn- idUSKCN1T50FL https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/world/ middleeast/us-iran-mike-pompeo.html 23 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

U.S. shared nuclear power info with US intel shows Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia after Khashoggi killed escalated its missile program with Timothy Gardner, Reuters, June 4, 2019 help from China The Trump administration granted two Phil Mattingly, Zachary Cohen and Jeremy authorizations to U.S. companies to share Herb, CNN, June 5, 2019 sensitive nuclear power information with The US government has obtained Saudi Arabia shortly after the killing of intelligence that Saudi Arabia has journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October, a significantly escalated its ballistic missile U.S. senator who saw the approvals said on program with the help of China, three Tuesday. sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, a development that threatens The timing of the approvals is likely to heap decades of US efforts to limit missile pressure on the administration of President proliferation in the Middle East. Donald Trump from lawmakers who have become increasingly critical of U.S. support The Trump administration did not initially for Saudi Arabia since Khashoggi was killed disclose its knowledge of this classified in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in development to key members of Congress, October. the sources said, infuriating Democrats who discovered it outside of regular US https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-nuclear- government channels and concluded it saudi/u-s-shared-nuclear-power-info-with-saudi- had been deliberately left out of a series of arabia-after-khashoggi-killed-idUSKCN1T52ER briefings where they say it should have been presented. Trump prepared to talk to Iran but says always a chance of military https://edition.cnn.com/2019/06/05/politics/us- action intelligence-saudi-arabia-ballistic-missile-china/ index.html Reuters, June 5, 2019 U.S. President Donald Trump said he was Trump ‘prepared’ to handle prepared to talk to Iranian President Hassan responsibility of launching nukes Rouhani but that there was always a chance Russia Times, June 5, 2019 of U.S. military action against the Islamic Republic. If and when the time comes, Donald Trump is prepared for the “tremendous “So Iran is a place that was extremely hostile responsibility” of pressing the nuclear when I first came into office,” Trump told button, the US president has said as British television station ITV. “They were a Washington locks horns with a growing terrorist nation number one in the world at number of states. that time and probably maybe are today.” The president made the comments during When asked if he thought he would need to an interview with Piers Morgan on ITV’s take military action, he said: “There’s always Good Morning Britain program on a chance. Do I want to? No. I’d rather not. Wednesday. But there’s always a chance.” When asked about the worst-case scenario He said, when asked, that he was prepared of potentially using nuclear weapons in a to talk to Rouhani: “Yeah of course. I would time of war, Trump noted that it is much rather talk.” a ”tremendous responsibility.” However, he is ready for the task. https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-trump-britain- iran/trump-prepared-to-talk-to-iran-but-says- https://www.rt.com/usa/461104-trump- always-a-chance-of-military-action- prepared-responsibility-nukes/ idINKCN1T60JI 24 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Exclusive: U.S. pursues sale of over it said aimed to dry up revenues to the $2 billion in weapons to Taiwan, Iranian military unit but that analysts sources say, angering China called largely symbolic. Mike Stone, Patricia Zengerle, Reuters, June https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-iran- 6, 2019 sanctions/u-s-sanctions-target-iran-petrochemi- cals-analysts-see-modest-effect- The United States is pursuing the sale of idUSKCN1T81RU more than $2 billion worth of tanks and weapons to Taiwan, four people familiar US DOE changes waste with the negotiations said, sparking anger interpretation from Beijing which is already involved in an escalating trade war with Washington. World Nuclear News, June 7, 2019

An informal notification of the proposed The US Department of Energy (DOE) has sale has been sent to the U.S. Congress, the published a new interpretation of high- four sources said on condition of anonymity level radioactive waste (HLW) in which because they were not authorized to speak reprocessing waste streams are defined by about the possible deal. their radiological characteristics rather than solely on how they were made. The potential sale included 108 General Dynamics Corp M1A2 Abrams tanks worth Up to now the DOE has managed nearly around $2 billion as well as anti-tank and all reprocessing waste streams as HLW anti-aircraft munitions, three of the sources regardless of radioactivity in a one- size- said. Taiwan has been interested in fits-all approach. This, it says, has led to refreshing its existing U.S.-made battle tank decades of delay, cost billions of dollars, inventory, which includes M60 Patton tanks. and left the waste ‘trapped’ in DOE facilities in Idaho, South Carolina and The United States is the main arms supplier Washington without a permanent disposal to Taiwan, which China deems its own and solution. has never renounced the use of force to bring the self-ruled island under its control. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ US-DOE-changes-waste-interpretation https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-taiwan/exclu- sive-u-s-pursues-sale-of-over-2-billion-in-weap- Got $50 million for a vacation? ons-to-taiwan-sources-say-angering-china- NASA to open space station to idINKCN1T62CK private citizens U.S. sanctions target Iran Makini Brice, Eric M. Johnson, Reuters, petrochemicals, analysts see modest June 8, 2019 effect NASA will allow private citizens to stay at the International Space Station (ISS) for Doina Chiacu, Arshad Mohammed, Reuters, June 7, 2019 month-long getaways at a cost of about $35,000 per night, the U.S. space agency The United States sanctioned Iran’s largest said on Friday. petrochemical holding group on Friday for indirectly supporting the Islamic The shift reverses a long-standing Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a step prohibition against tourists and private it said aimed to dry up revenues to the interests at the orbiting research lab, and Iranian military unit but that analysts called reflects a broader push to expand largely symbolic. commercial activities at the ISS and in space more generally. The United States sanctioned Iran’s largest petrochemical holding group on Friday for It paves the way for private citizens to indirectly supporting the Islamic travel to the ISS aboard rocket-and-capsule Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a step launch systems being developed by Boeing 25 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Co and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The two to the Moon - We did that 50 years ago,” companies are set to ferry astronauts to the the president wrote on Twitter. “They ISS from U.S. soil for the first time in nearly should be focused on the much bigger a decade. things we are doing, including Mars (of which the Moon is a part), Defense and https://in.reuters.com/article/space-exploration- Science!” nasa/got-50-million-for-a-vacation-nasa-to-open- space-station-to-private-citizens-idINKCN1T820J Trump’s statement, tweeted from Air Force One as he returned from Europe, New U.S. sanctions show offer of appeared at odds with his administration’s talks with Iran not genuine: Foreign recent push to return humans to the lunar Ministry surface by 2024 “by any means necessary,” five years sooner than the Reuters, June 8, 2019 previous goal of 2028.

Additional sanctions imposed on Iran by the NASA plans to build a space outpost in United States show that Washington’s offer lunar orbit that can relay astronauts to the of talks is not genuine, Iranian Foreign lunar surface by 2024, part of a broader Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on initiative to use the moon as a staging Saturday. ground for eventual missions to Mars. NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said Tensions have risen between Iran and the Trump was only reaffirming NASA’s United States in recent weeks after space plan. Washington sent more military forces to the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, https://in.reuters.com/article/us-space-explora- B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles, in a show tion-moon-trump/trump-criticizes-nasa-moon- of force against what U.S. officials call mission-after-promoting-it-earlier- Iranian threats to U.S. troops and interests idINKCN1T82L1 in the region. U.S. And Russia Train Together in Iranian Defence Minister Amir Hatami noted the presence of American warships Arctic, Where They Both Want to in the region on Saturday and said that the Be Top Power Islamic Republic’s enemies are afraid of Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, June 11, 2019 conflict because of the country’s advanced offensive and defensive power, according to Forces from the United States and Russia the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA). trained side-by-side in the Arctic, one of the many regions of the world where the https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-sanctions/ pair have been engaged in a competition new-u-s-sanctions-show-offer-of-talks-with-iran- for influence. not-genuine-foreign-ministry-idINKCN1T909E The Russian Federal Security Services’ Trump criticizes NASA moon (FSB) patrol ship Sakhalin and the U.S. mission after promoting it earlier Coast Guard cutter Alex Haley conducted a joint patrol Tuesday in the icy waters of Joey Roulette, Reuters, June 8, 2019 the Bering Sea that separates the two U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday nations’ territorial limits. The FSB’s East criticized NASA for aiming to put astronauts Arctic directorate said the two enhanced back on the moon by 2024 and urged the their communication and kept an eye out space agency to focus instead on “much for illegal maritime activities. bigger” initiatives like going to Mars, “Radio communications issues were undercutting his previous support for the worked out, including with a deck lunar initiative. helicopter and a training session was “For all of the money we are spending, conducted on the use of the International NASA should NOT be talking about going Code of Signals (ICS-65) when 26 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

maneuvering together,” the directorate’s court, White House national security press service said. adviser John Bolton said on Tuesday.

https://www.newsweek.com/us-russia-train- While North Korea had kept pledges not together-arctic-1443438 to conduct nuclear or intercontinental range ballistic missile tests, Bolton said the U.S. says Iran is in breach of nuclear United States was continuing its deal but repeats offer of talks “maximum pressure campaign” because Kim still appeared not to have made “a Reuters, June 11, 2019 strategic decision to give up the pursuit of The United States said on Tuesday that deliverable nuclear weapons.” Iran’s work with advanced centrifuges is a Bolton, speaking at a conference hosted by breach of the nuclear deal Washington has the Wall Street Journal, said it was already pulled out of, expressing its concern “entirely possible” there could be a third while repeating that it is open to holding Trump-Kim summit following their earlier talks with Tehran. meetings in Singapore and Vietnam. “Kim Jong Un holds the key,” he said. “We are In a statement to a quarterly meeting of the ready when they are, so it’s - any time that U.N. nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board they want to schedule it,” Bolton said. of Governors, the United States also said Tehran’s acceleration of uranium enrichment https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa- would not lead to Washington backing bolton/third-u-s-north-korea-summit-possible- down in its policy of trying to isolate Iran. up-to-kim-bolton-idINKCN1TC1PK “Attempting to generate negotiating leverage 1 kg of uranium at a time will not Factbox: The ups and downs since bring sanctions relief,” U.S. Ambassador Trump first met North Korea’s Kim Jackie Wolcott said in her statement to the Hyonhee Shin, Reuters, June 12, 2019 board. U.S. President Donald Trump met North The landmark 2015 deal between Iran and Korean leader Kim Jong Un for the first major powers allows Tehran to operate time at a historic summit in Singapore on thousands of first-generation IR-1 June 12 last year and there have been ups centrifuges - machines that enrich uranium and downs in the North’s foreign relations - but puts much stricter limits on more since then. Progress has been made, such advanced models. as the return of some remains of American soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean A quarterly report by the International War. But even that has stalled since the Atomic Energy Agency, which is policing second summit between Trump and Kim the deal, last month said Iran had installed broke down in Vietnam in February. up to 33 IR-6 centrifuges, although only 10 had been tested with uranium hexafluoride The two sides now appear as far apart as feedstock so far. they were going into the Singapore summit.

https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea/u- North Korea has conducted short-range s-says-iran-is-in-breach-of-nuclear-deal-but- missile tests and complained of U.S. repeats-offer-of-talks-idINKCN1TC289 pressure, while the United States has doubled down on its enforcement of Third U.S.-North Korea summit sanctions on North Korea. possible, up to Kim – Bolton Here are some of the major events since Reuters, June 11, 2019 Kim and Trump shook hands a year ago.

A third summit between President Donald https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa- Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong factbox/factbox-the-ups-and-downs-since-trump- Un is possible but the ball is in Pyongyang’s first-met-north-koreas-kim-idINKCN1TD034 27 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Rocket firm Relativity signs lease Trump says he is ‘in no rush’ to with NASA for new robotic 3D make a nuclear deal with North printing factory Korea Joey Roulette, Reuters, June 12, 2019 Reuters, June 13, 2019 Relativity Space, a venture-backed rocket U.S. President Donald Trump said on maker, said on Tuesday it will lease space Wednesday he was “in no rush” to make a from NASA in Mississippi, where its gigantic deal with North Korea to get it to dismantle 3D printers will produce low-cost rockets to its nuclear weapons program, and touted be used to launch small-payload satellites what he called his positive relationship with into orbit. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The lease, for 220,000 square feet (20,000 “I think we’re going to do very well with square meters) at NASA’s Stennis Space North Korea over a period of time. I’m in Center rocket-testing facility, is the latest step no rush. The sanctions are on,” Trump for the Los Angeles-based company in its said during a news conference with Polish ultimate mission to 3D print rockets on Mars, President Andrzej Duda. a goal Relativity’s chief executive, Tim Ellis, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- says is a prerequisite for space colonization. usa-trump/trump-says-he-is-in-no-rush-to- First the company must perfect a system make-a-nuclear-deal-with-north-korea- where machine-learning robots can idUSKCN1TD2H8 manufacture and assemble its flagship Terran 1 rocket in space without help from U.S. military intelligence steps up humans, a target that Relativity hopes will accusation against Russia over be reached with cash generated from nuclear testing launching small satellites on its rockets built at the Stennis facility. Paul Sonne, Washington Post, June 13, 2019 The U.S. military intelligence agency https://in.reuters.com/article/us-space-exploration- stepped up its accusations against Russia relativity/rocket-firm-relativity-signs-lease-with-nasa- over low-yield nuclear testing on for-new-robotic-3d-printing-factory-idINKCN1TC2IS Thursday, saying that the country has conducted nuclear weapons tests that U.S. sanctions Iraq-based company, resulted in nuclear yield. The new says it backs Iran’s IRGC statement from the Defense Intelligence Reuters, June 12, 2019 Agency amounted to a more direct accusation against Russia, compared to The United States on Wednesday sanctioned hedged comments about Russian nuclear an Iraqi company and two of its associates, testing that DIA Director Lt. Gen. Robert which it said had helped Iran’s Islamic P. Ashley Jr. made in a speech in Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds force Washington in late May. evade sanctions by smuggling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of weapons. “The U.S. Government, including the Intelligence Community, has assessed that “The Iraqi financial sector and the broader Russia has conducted nuclear weapons international financial system must harden tests that have created nuclear yield,” the their defenses against the continued DIA statement released Thursday said. deceptive tactics emanating from Tehran in The agency didn’t give any details about order to avoid complicity in the IRGC’s the alleged tests or release any evidence ongoing sanctions evasion schemes and backing the accusation. other malign activities,” Mnuchin added. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-sanctions/ national-security/us-military-intelligence-steps- u-s-sanctions-iraq-based-company-says-it-backs- up-accusation-against-russia-over-nuclear- irans-irgc-idINKCN1TD1SW testing/2019/06/13/2dadf2e2-8e26-11e9-b162- 8f6f41ec3c04_story.html?utm_term=.561fcf259537 28 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Trump says neither Iran nor U.S. Trump says ready to hold talks ready to make a deal with Iran despite tanker attacks Reuters, June 14, 2019 Reuters, June 14, 2019 U.S. President Donald Trump said on U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he appreciated the recent visit Friday he was ready to launch talks with by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Iran whenever it was ready, even as he Iran to meet leaders, but that he believed it blamed Tehran for attacks on two oil is “too soon to even think about” the United tankers in the Gulf of Oman. States making a deal with Tehran. “They are not ready, and neither are we!” Trump said “We want to get them back to the table,” in a tweet. Trump told Fox News in an interview. “I’m ready when they are,” adding that https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-trump/ he was in “no rush.” Asked how to he trump-says-neither-iran-nor-u-s-ready-to-make-a- planned to address Tehran and stop any deal-idINKCN1TE2UY further incidents, Trump said: “We’ll see what happens.” Trump says ‘Iran did do it,’ as U.S. seeks support on Gulf oil tanker https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-tanker- trump/trump-says-ready-to-hold-talks-with- attacks iran-despite-tanker-attacks-idINKCN1TF1JX Parisa Hafezi, Makini Brice, Reuters, June 14, 2019 U.S. allows Iraq to import Iranian energy for three more months The United States on Friday blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers at the entrance to Reuters, June 15, 2019 the Gulf and said it was seeking international consensus about the threat to The United States has allowed Iraq to shipping, despite Tehran denying import Iranian gas for its power grid for involvement in the explosions at sea. another three months by extending a waiver to sanctions - but insists that Thursday’s attacks raised fears of a Baghdad seek alternative sources. Iraq has confrontation in the vital oil shipping route had several extensions to the waiver first at a time of increased tension between Iran granted last year after Washington and the United States over U.S. sanctions reimposed sanctions on Tehran’s oil sector and military moves in the Middle East, forbidding countries from purchasing Tehran’s proxy groups in the region and its Iranian energy. nuclear programme. “An additional 120-day waiver was “Iran did do it and you know they did it granted to allow Iraq to continue to pay because you saw the boat,” U.S. President for electricity imports from Iran,” the U.S. Donald Trump told Fox News. He was State Department said in an emailed referring to a video released on Thursday statement. An Iraqi government source by the U.S. military which said it showed said the extension was given during a Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were behind phone call between Prime Minister Adel the blasts that struck the Norwegian-owned Abdul Mahdi and U.S. Secretary of State Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Mike Pompeo. The State Department said Kokuka Courageous in the Gulf of Oman, the United States continued to insist on at the mouth of the Gulf. “diversifying energy imports away from Iran,” however. https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-attacks/ trump-says-iran-did-do-it-as-u-s-seeks-support- President Donald Trump’s administration on-gulf-oil-tanker-attacks-idINKCN1TF0DP has said oil-rich Iraq must become more self-reliant for its electricity, including by 29 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

harnessing gas energy and reducing flaring oil-dependent economy even if it means at oil production sites. punishing U.S. allies in the process.

https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-iraq/u-s- https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ allows-iraq-to-import-iranian-energy-for-three- trumps-consistent-criticism-of-iran-pushes-us- more-months-idINKCN1TG09Q to-point-of-potential-conflict/2019/06/15/ be997678-8ecb-11e9-b08e- U.S. Escalates Online Attacks on cfd89bd36d4e_story.html?utm_term=.1c78845d61e5 Russia’s Power Grid E. Europe David E. Sanger and Nicole Perlroth, New York Times, June 15, 2019 French weapons sales to Saudi jumped 50 percent last year The United States is stepping up digital incursions into Russia’s electric power grid John Irish, Reuters, June 5, 2019 in a warning to President Vladimir V. Putin and a demonstration of how the Trump France’s weapons sales to Saudi Arabia administration is using new authorities to rose 50 pct in 2018 despite the government deploy cybertools more aggressively, current calling for an end to the “dirty war” in and former government officials said. Yemen, figures released on Tuesday showed. An annual government report In interviews over the past three months, the showed that total arms sales rose 30 officials described the previously unreported percent to 9.1 billion euros in 2018, driven deployment of American computer code by a sharp increase in sales to European inside Russia’s grid and other targets as a allies. classified companion to more publicly discussed action directed at Moscow’s France sold about 1 billion euros worth of disinformation and hacking units around arms to Saudi Arabia, with the main item the 2018 midterm elections. being patrol boats. A partial naval blockade of ports controlled by the Houthi https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/us/politics/ movement is one of the tactics used by a trump-cyber-russia-grid.html Saudi-led coalition in Yemen that has been criticised by campaigners for worsening a Trump’s consistent criticism of Iran humanitarian crisis. pushes U.S. to point of potential https://in.reuters.com/article/france-defence- conflict arms/french-weapons-sales-to-saudi-jumped-50- percent-last-year-idINKCN1T51EZ Anne Gearan and Carol Morello, Washington Post, June 15, 2019 German FM traveling to Iran to One constant in President Trump’s malleable salvage nuclear accord foreign policy has been his fierce criticism of Iran and what he described as a weak AP News, June 6, 2019 and dangerous nuclear compact the United Germany’s foreign minister is traveling to States and other countries negotiated with Iran next week to discuss the faltering Tehran. Threats and sanctions, and lots of nuclear accord between Tehran and them, have been his go-to response, lately leading world powers, his office said leavened with vague offers of future Thursday. Heiko Maas’ visit to Iran will negotiations. be part of a broader trip to the Middle East Trump’s reaction to attacks on two starting Friday, with stops in Jordan and commercial tankers near the Strait of the United Arab Emirates, Foreign Hormuz on Thursday fits the pattern, but it Ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr may also reveal the limits of his said. Maas plans to meet his Iranian administration’s strategy of squeezing Iran’s counterpart Mohammed Javad Zarif on 30 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Monday to discuss Tehran’s role in the As German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas restive region and the 2015 nuclear accord. added, “at the same time we need to prevent further countries from obtaining https://www.apnews.com/ nuclear weapons.” Maas called the spread 3065dbce90ed416eb4468ab1d2472a5d of nuclear weapons: “a danger to world peace. We must counteract this negative German minister lands in Iran in development.” Maas also said Germany bid to save nuclear pact was willing to hold a follow-up meeting in Berlin next year. Sabine Siebold, Reuters, June 9, 2019 https://www.dw.com/en/non-nuclear-states- Germany’s foreign minister has arrived in discuss-weapons-proliferation-in-sweden/a- Tehran to hold talks with President Hassan 49138715 Rouhani on Monday, as part of a concerted European effort to preserve Iran’s nuclear European officials frustrated over pact with world powers and defuse rising U.S.-Iranian tensions. faltering Iran nuke pact West European signatories, including David Keyton, AP News, June 11, 2019 Germany, want to try to keep the nuclear The foreign ministers of Germany and accord alive although they share the Trump Sweden expressed frustration Tuesday administration’s disquiet about Iran’s over the possible demise of the Iran nuclear ballistic missile programme and its role in deal, warning Tehran that withdrawing conflicts around in the Middle East. would bring “international isolation” and Germany, France and Britain maintain that criticizing the United States for the nuclear pact remains the best way to limit jeopardizing a decade of diplomatic Iran’s enrichment of uranium, a potential efforts. Speaking at a nuclear disarmament pathway to the development of nuclear meeting in Stockholm, Swedish Foreign weapons. Minister Margot Wallstrom said Washington’s abandonment of the 2015 A German diplomatic source confirmed that accord had been “very counterproductive” Foreign Minister Heiko Maas would meet his — threatening not just the Iran deal but counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and the credibility of world powers in Rouhani on Monday. negotiating with North Korea.

https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-germany/ The European Union and some countries german-minister-lands-in-iran-in-bid-to-save- in Europe have been working to salvage nuclear-pact-idINKCN1TA0JY the agreement intended to curb Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons since Non-nuclear states discuss weapons U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew proliferation in Sweden from it last year and reinstated sanctions against Iran. Tehran has threatened to also DW, June 11, 2019 walk away from the deal on July 7 and Diplomats from 16 countries have convened resume enriching uranium closer to in Stockholm to focus on the Nuclear Non- weapons-grade level unless the remaining Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Their aim is to signatories — China, Russia, France, prevent the spread of atomic weapons, Germany and Britain — find a way to calling it “a danger to world peace.” Russian neutralize the effect of U.S. sanctions. “ military test of a Burevestnik nuclear cruise Maas said. “If Iran were to withdraw from missile (picture-alliance/dpa) Foreign this agreement, it would go into ministers from 16 non-nuclear countries international isolation; it would be back gathered in Stockholm, Sweden, Tuesday to where it was before the agreement, discuss the state of the Nuclear Non- including all the sanctions,” he added. Proliferation Treaty (NPT), urging nuclear “That cannot be in Iran’s interest.” powers “to shoulder their responsibilities for https://www.apnews.com/ disarmament.” a78f567097ef4a7aaaa9501df811ce7c 31 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Bulgaria ready to protect North “Britain should act to ease tensions in the Macedonia’s airspace with F-16 jets Gulf, not fuel a military escalation that began with US withdrawal from the Iran Reuters, June 13, 2019 nuclear agreement,” he added,” he said, NATO member Bulgaria could help protect referring to Washington’s withdrawal its southwestern neighbour North from a 2015 pact to curb Tehran’s nuclear Macedonia’s airspace if it completes a deal plans. for the purchase of eight F-16 aircraft from https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-attacks- the United States, Prime Minister Boyko britain-corbyn/british-opposition-leader- Borissov said on Wednesday. questions-iran-accusations-idINKCN1TG069 Bulgaria, which is also a member of the European Union, is looking to replace its EU warns against blaming Iran for ageing Soviet-made MiG-29s and improve oil tanker attacks compliance with NATO standards. DW, June 16, 2019 A Pentagon agency said on Monday that European foreign ministers have urged the U.S. State Department had approved the restraint in directing blame over an alleged possible sale of eight F-16 aircraft and related attack on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. equipment to Bulgaria at an estimated cost The US has pointed the finger at Iran, but of $1.67 billion. European diplomats say they need more evidence. However, Bulgaria expects the United States to offer to sell the jets for its air force at a Top EU diplomats meeting in Luxembourg discounted price of $1.2 billion. “We spoke on Monday said they were still seeking with (my) colleague (North Macedonian information about who may have Prime Minister Zoran) Zaev last week... to launched attacks against two oil tankers guard North Macedonia’s airspace when we in the Strait of Hormuz. The gathering acquire the new jets,” Borissov told reporters. comes amid escalating tensions between https://in.reuters.com/article/bulgaria-macedonia- the US and Iran. It also follows Tehran’s defence-jets/bulgaria-ready-to-protect-north- announcement that it plans to breach a macedonias-airspace-with-f-16-jets-idINKCN1TD1O3 2015 nuclear deal struck with international powers.

British opposition leader questions EU foreign policy chief Federica Iran accusations Mogherini urged diplomats ahead of the monthly meeting not to jump to Reuters, June 15, 2019 conclusions: “The maximum restraint and The leader of Britain’s main opposition party wisdom should be applied,” she said. has questioned whether the government had German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said evidence to back up its accusations that Iran his country hasn’t yet made up its mind was behind attacks on oil tankers in the yet about who was behind the alleged entrance to the Gulf, and warned against attacks in the Gulf. “With a decision of this escalating tensions. kind the utmost care is required and we’ll take our time for this.” He said US and Britain on Friday joined the United States British intelligence needed to be compared in blaming Iran for attacks on two tankers, to material from allies, adding that raising fears of a broader military Germany was still in the process of confrontation in a vital passageway for the collecting information and the evidence world’s oil industry. provided so far “comes from one side in Iran has denied any involvement. “Without particular.” credible evidence about the tanker attacks, https://www.dw.com/en/eu-warns-against- the government’s rhetoric will only increase blaming-iran-for-oil-tanker-attacks/a-49237206 the threat of war,” Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote on Twitter late on Friday. 32 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

F. Russia office said in a statement. Russia & Argentina Expand Nuclear https://tass.com/defense/1061451 Energy Cooperation Russia’s Mideast Nuclear Projects Vusala Abbasova, Caspian News, June 1, Help Build Trust With Allies – 2019 Energy Corp. High ranking officials from Russia and Argentina met in Buenos Aires from May Sputnik News, June 3, 2019 27-28 to reaffirm interest in joint nuclear Sharing Russia’s long-running expertise in power projects in the South American harnessing nuclear power for peaceful country. “The working group is tasked with purposes with allies in the Middle East and specifying all matters pertaining to this North Africa is important for building trust project,” RIA Novosti quoted Sergey with regional countries, the state atomic Dankvert, head of the Russian agricultural energy corporation Rosatom told Sputnik. watchdog Rosselkhoznadzor and chairman of the Russian-Argentine inter- “We continue to closely cooperate with our governmental commission, as saying on regional partners. Nuclear power plant Tuesday after the commission’s session. “We construction projects have entered the active think that we may see a very serious phase in four countries in the region, three breakthrough in this sphere.” of them are run by Rosatom. It is a show of trust in us and of dynamic intergovernmental In 2018, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev ties [in the sphere of] peaceful use of nuclear and Argentine Energy Minister Javier Iguacel energy. That is why delivering on our signed a strategic document on the sidelines commitments on nuclear power projects of the G20 summit in Buenos Aires that is our absolute priority,” Alexei Likhachev, paved the way for Russian construction of director general of the state atomic energy a nuclear power plant in Argentina. The corporation Rosatom said. document envisages the joint development of various execution strategies to be applied https://sputniknews.com/world/20190603107 to nuclear power projects. 5578578-russia-mideast-nuclear-project/

https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/russia- Russia Tests New Missile argentina-expand-nuclear-energy-cooperation- 2019-5-31-50/ Defense System, Military Says The Moscow Times, June 4, 2019 Three Russian nuclear-powered subs Russia has tested a new unidentified surface through Arctic ice in drills missile at a launch site where the country TASS News Agency, June 3, 2019 had previously test-launched missiles designed to protect Moscow’s airspace, the The Project 885 lead multirole nuclear- Russian military said. powered submarine and two Project 667BDRM strategic subs practiced surfacing The Russian Defense Ministry test- in open water patches amid Arctic ice during launched its anti-ballistic missile at the drills in May, the press office of Russia’s Sary-Shagan missile testing site in Northern Fleet reported on Monday. Kazakhstan at least twice in 2018. Those tested missiles had been deployed to “The underwater nuclear-powered missile protect Moscow — whose missile defense cruisers Tula, Novomoskovsk and capability consists of the A-135 system Severodvinsk were involved in performing armed with nuclear-tipped short-range missions under the Arctic Ocean’s ice. The interceptors — from potential air attacks. submariners practiced a whole range of under-ice sailing tasks, including the search https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/06/04/ for an open water patch in the designated russia-tests-new-missile-defense-system- area and surfacing through ice,” the press military-says-a65860 33 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Putin’s Media Struggle to Deal With Russia Keeps Asking U.S. To HBO’s Chernobyl Agree to No Nuclear Weapons Ilya Shepelin, The Moscow Times, June 4, 2019 Use, But It’s Not Getting Any Answer It seems every major Russian media outlet had to chime in about the “Chernobyl” TV Tom O’Connor, Newsweek, June 6, 2019 series by HBO. Although the foreign Moscow’s top diplomat has again program airs only online to paying viewers, petitioned Washington to join an the show has become something of a agreement to mutually forego the use of national sensation in Russia where the pro- nuclear weapons, an effort that has so far Kremlin media have launched a mini- produced no response. crusade against it. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Komsomolskaya Pravda (KP), Russia’s most made the latest call Tuesday at the popular newspaper, raised suspicions that international Primakov Readings summit competitors of state-atomic center Rosatom in Moscow, urging that Russian President were using the series to tarnish this Vladimir Putin and President Donald country’s image as a nuclear power. Trump come together to reassure the https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/06/04/ international community that nuclear putins-media-struggle-to-deal-with-hbos- warfare was not an option as historic non- chernobyl-a65866 proliferation measures between them fell victim to geopolitical tensions. Should China and Russia sign general such weapons of mass destruction ever be used, Lavrov warned everyone would lose. contract for two Xudabao units https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ask-us-no- World Nuclear News, June 6, 2019 nuclear-weapons-1443464 The general contract for Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors for units 3 & 4 of the NPT signatories must return Xudabao nuclear power plant in China’s nuclear weapons to their land — Liaoning province was signed yesterday in Russian, Chinese leaders Moscow in the presence of the countries’ heads of state. TASS News Agency, June 6, 2019

The contract was signed by representatives Russia and China have called on all of Rosatom’s engineering subsidiary ASE member states of the Treaty on the Non- and China National Nuclear Corporation Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) (CNNC). to return all nuclear weapons kept abroad to their territory, reads a joint statement Alexey Likhachov, general director of the by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian state nuclear corporation, said: Chinese President Xi Jinping on the “Today, we have moved a Russian-designed outcomes of their talks in Moscow. NPP construction project on a new site to the practical stage of its implementation. “The sides find the irresponsible approach Taking into account the previously signed of some states to fulfilling their obligations contract for the Tianwan NPP, together with under the NPT unacceptable,” the our Ñhinese partners we will build four of statement says. “These states must the latest Generation 3+ power units by abandon the practice of ‘joint nuclear 2028.” missions’ and return all nuclear weapons placed outside the borders of nuclear states https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ back to their national territory.” China-and-Russian-sign-general-contract-for- two-Xu https://tass.com/politics/1061929 34 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Russia and China reiterate Iran control could break down, saying talks SUPPORT as Tehran works on with Washington on extending the New nuclear weapons START nuclear arms treaty had yet to begin. Speaking in televised comments Kumail Jaffer, The Express, June 6, 2019 from St Petersburg, Putin said his most recent phone conversation with U.S. The two superpowers were meeting at the Donald Trump had, however, give him Kremlin as both sought to agree a coherent some cause for optimism. geopolitical strategy. As Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping showered praise on one another, https://in.reuters.com/article/russia-usa- talks over North Korea, Venezuela and Iran nuclear-putin/russias-putin-warns-nuclear- were held. And while the Trump arms-control-system-risks-breaking-down- administration is ramping up pressure on idINKCN1T71FA Tehran, both China and Russia have restated their support for the under-pressure state. Putin: Moscow, Beijing agree on A joint statement read: “The parties building several more Russia- emphasise the need to protect their mutually designed nuclear power units beneficial commercial and economic TASS News Agency, June 7, 2019 cooperation with Iran and firmly oppose the imposition of unilateral sanctions by any Moscow and Beijing have agreed on states under the pretence of their own building four more Russia-designed national legislation.” nuclear power units in China, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the St. https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1137137/ Petersburg International Economic Forum world-war-3-russia-china-iran-nuclear-weapons- (SPIEF-2019) on Friday. us-washington-tehran-spt “Four units of the Tianwan NPP have been Putin says Russia has most built in China with Russia’s participation,” advanced weapons for its security, Putin said at a meeting with the even if New START is nixed participants of the Russian-Chinese energy forum within the SPIEF. TASS News Agency, June 6, 2019 “Agreements have been reached on building In case that the New START Treaty is several more Russia-designed nuclear terminated in 2021, “there will generally be power units,” the Russian leader said. no instruments limiting the arms race,” Putin said. Russia’s most advanced https://tass.com/economy/1062602 hypersonic weapons will be capable of defending the country, even if the Treaty on Rosatom opens a branch in Saudi Measures for the Further Reduction and Arabia Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (the New START Treaty) is terminated, Russian Saudi Gazette, June 11, 2019 President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting During the 6th session of the Russian- with the heads of international news Saudi Arabian intergovernmental agencies on Thursday. commission on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation, Russian https://tass.com/politics/1062243 Energy Minister Alexander Novak confirmed Russia’s plans to develop active Russia’s Putin warns nuclear arms partnership with Saudi Arabia in the control system risks breaking down peaceful use of nuclear technologies and Reuters, June 7, 2019 announced the opening of a Rusatom Overseas branch in Riyadh. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Thursday there was a significant risk that JSC Rusatom Overseas is a company of the international system for nuclear arms Rosatom State Corporation responsible for 35 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

promotion of the integrated offer for large so far received the response, says Russia’s and small capacity NPPs and Centers of top diplomat Nuclear Science and Technologies (CNST) construction projects in the international The presidents of Russia and the United market. States should jointly declare that the use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable, “The opening of the Russian company’s Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov branch in Riyadh is a significant step in told an international forum, the Primakov Russian-Saudi relations in the field of nuclear Readings, on Tuesday. “From a political energy. Rosatom’s presence in the Kingdom perspective, it’s of principal importance will ensure efficient interaction with Saudi that Russia and the US calm the rest of state bodies and private-owned companies the world and pass a joint statement at a within the competitive dialogue for Saudi high level that there can be no victory in a Arabia’s first nuclear power plant project”, nuclear war and therefore it is unacceptable said Alexander Novak. and inadmissible,” Lavrov said.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/568660 https://tass.com/politics/1063269

Russia plans to deliver missiles to US provokes Iran’s radical steps Turkey in July; U.S. takes dim view on nuclear deal - Russian diplomat Daren Butler, Maria Tsvetkova, Reuters, June TASS News Agency, June 12, 2019 11, 2019 Washington is inciting Tehran to take Russia said on Tuesday it plans to deliver its radical steps on the Iranian nuclear deal, S-400 missile defence systems to Turkey in Russia’s Permanent Representative to July, setting the clock ticking on a U.S. threat International Organizations in Vienna to hit Ankara with sanctions if it goes ahead Mikhail Ulyanov said in a statement, with a deal that has strained ties between published on the Russian Foreign the NATO allies. Ministry’s website.

Turkey and the United States have sparred The diplomat noted that the US has not publicly for months over Ankara’s order for just pulled out from the Joint the S-400s, which are not compatible with Comprehensive Plan of Action on the the transatlantic alliance’s systems. Iranian nuclear program, but it seeks to undermine it by blocking the Washington has threatened to remove implementation of this agreement’s Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet programme economic part. unless it drops the deal, and has set its own deadline of July 31. If Ankara accepts https://tass.com/politics/1063473 delivery of the S-400s, that would trigger U.S. sanctions that could prolong Turkey’s Russia says US troop build-up in economic recession and prompt a re-evaluation Poland ‘undermines stability in of its 67-year membership of NATO. Europe’ https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-turkey-security/ Henry Foy, Demetri Sevastopulo and James russia-plans-to-deliver-missiles-to-turkey-in-july- Shotter, Financial Times, June 13, 2019 u-s-takes-dim-view-idINKCN1TC1TR Russia has accused the US of striking a Lavrov urges Russia, US to adopt “severe blow” to European stability after joint declaration on avoiding Donald Trump announced he would send 1,000 troops to Poland, raising fears nuclear war of a new arms race between the two TASS News Agency, June 11, 2019 military superpowers. Moscow submitted proposals on the entire Mr Trump’s decision to boost the US range of strategic stability issues, but has not military in Poland, which has long sought 36 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

a bigger Nato presence to deter any threat his claim by saying it’s supported by the from Russia, comes just months after his Intelligence Community,” said Hans administration pulled out of a landmark Kristensen, the Director of the Nuclear Cold War nuclear missile treaty drawn up Information Project at the Federation of to protect Europe from attack. American Scientists (FAS) and an Associate Senior Fellow with the Stockholm-based https://www.ft.com/content/e20908a8-8dcc-11e9- SIPRI Disarmament, Arms Control and a1c1-51bf8f989972 Non-proliferation Programme. Russia’s VVER-TOI reactor https://tass.com/defense/1063930 certified by European utilities WEST ASIA World Nuclear News, June 14, 2019 G. Iran The Russian-designed VVER-TOI nuclear power reactor design - developed from the Iranian envoy: S. Arabia, Israel, VVER-1200 - has been formally certified as Egypt, and UAE have been compliant by the European Utility developing missiles with long Requirements (EUR) organisation. ranges Atomenergoproekt, a subsidiary of Russian Tehran Times, June 1, 2019 state nuclear corporation Rosatom, announced the VVER-TOI (typical Hamid Baeidinejad, Tehran’s ambassador optimised, with enhanced information) to London, has said Iran’s missile program design in 2010, developed using technical is not the only one in the region, IRNA results from the VVER-1200 project. This reported on Friday. In a post on his design has an upgraded pressure vessel, Instagram page, the ambassador said increased power to 3300 MWt and 1255- information from missile programs by 1300 MWe gross (nominally 1300 MWe), certain regional countries indicates that improved core design to increase cooling despite the propaganda campaigns reliability, further development of passive launched against Iran’s missile program, safety with 72-hour grace period requiring Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, and even the no operator intervention after shutdown, UAE have devised large-scale missile lower construction and operating costs, and programs in collaboration with other 40-month construction time. It will use a countries for decades and produced low-speed turbine-generator. missiles with long ranges. He said since the Iraqi war against Iran in https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Russia-s- the 1980s, Saudi Arabia has been VVER-VOI-reactor-certified-by-European-ut developing four or five missile submarines under the management of the strategic No unanimity among US missile forces by purchasing technology of intelligence community over claims Chinese rocket, Dong Feng. In addition to of nuclear test in Russia —expert short-range missiles of up to 1,000 kilometers, Saudi Arabia also has a variety TASS News Agency, June 15, 2019 of mid-range ballistic missiles, the The US intelligence community apparently ambassador explained. He added that Israel has no single opinion on Pentagon’s claims has designed and implemented a large- that Russia carried out nuclear tests in recent scale missile program to support its nuclear years, in breach of its international weapons program and conventional commitments and domestic moratorium, a weapons program. The diplomat also said the concerns expressed about Iran by the senior international non-proliferation expert U.S., Israel and their allies are because told TASS on Friday. Iran’s high deterrence power. “The DIA director received some push-back https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436539/ against his original statement, so this second Iranian-envoy-S-Arabia-Israel-Egypt-and- statement appears intended to strengthen UAE-have-been-developing 37 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

IAEA report proves Iran’s support table, and it “should return to normal for multilateralism: envoy state”. Tehran Times, June 1, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the United States is prepared Iran’s ambassador and permanent to engage with Iran without pre- representative to the Vienna-based conditions about its nuclear program, but international organizations said on Friday needs to see the country behaving like “a night that the International Atomic Energy normal nation”. Agency’s latest report shows Tehran’s goodwill in preserving multilateralism in Rouhani was quoted by the government’s international relations. The remarks by official website as saying: “The other side Kazem Gharibabadi came immediately after that left the negotiating table and breached the IAEA issued its quarterly report a treaty should return to normal state. confirming that Iran has stayed within the Until then, we do not have a choice but main restrictions of the JCPOA and was resistance.” abiding by the main terms of the accord, including the most sensitive issues of its https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-rouhani/ stockpile of enriched uranium and level of irans-rouhani-says-u-s-should-return-to- enrichment. normal-state-for-talks-official-website- idINKCN1T30QD Gharibabadi said the IAEA’s fifteenth consecutive report which confirmed Iran’s Iran’s defense power absolutely compliance with the 2015 nuclear non-negotiable, admiral says agreement (JCPOA) signifies that the Islamic Republic has honored its June 2, 2019 international commitments, Tasnim “We declare explicitly that Iran’s defense reported. He stated that the report has and missile power is absolutely non- explicitly mentioned the order by Iran’s negotiable,” Sayyari told Tasnim news Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) agency. He said nobody would ever to stop implementing certain JCPOA bargain over Tehran’s defense capabilities. commitments under the clauses 26 and 36 On Europe’s willingness to hold new of the accord, and has also cited the rounds of talks with Iran with the aim of resumption of heavy water production at completing the 2015 nuclear deal, the Iran’s Arak nuclear facility after a two- admiral said, “Europeans may have many month hiatus for preventive maintenance. wishes and dreams, but we won’t let them The envoy added that Iran’s cooperation achieve the dream of missile talks with with the IAEA is in a “constructive course” Iran.” He pointed to the recent remarks despite the developments surrounding the by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution JCPOA. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei about the https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436560/ impossibility of talks on Iran’s defense and IAEA-report-proves-Iran-s-support-for- missile capabilities, saying the Leader’s multilateralism-envoy remarks were crystal clear and described negotiations with the U.S. as a lethal Iran’s Rouhani says U.S. ‘should poison. return to normal state’ for talks’: In comments last month, Ayatollah official website Khamenei categorically dismissed the notion of talks with the U.S., saying, Reuters, June 2, 2019 “Negotiation is poison. As long as the U.S. Reacting to a U.S. offer to talk with Iran continues to be what it is now - as Imam without pre-conditions, Iranian President once said, ‘as long as he does not act like a Hassan Rouhani said on Sunday it was decent human being’: this is how he Washington that had left the negotiating worded it - our negotiation with the U.S. 38 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

is poison, even more so with the current would not give up its missile programme. administration.” Ayatollah Khamenei has reiterated on various occasions that Iran’s Iran and the United States have been defense capabilities and power are not drawn into starker confrontation in the subject to negotiations. past month, a year after Washington pulled out of a deal between Iran and https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436606/Iran- global powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear s-defense-power-absolutely-non-negotiable- programme in return for lifting admiral-says international sanctions.

Iran calls U.S. sanctions ‘economic Trump said last week that Iran “has a war’, says no talks until they are chance to be a great country, with the same leadership. We’re not looking for lifted regime change. I just want to make that Reuters, June 3, 2019 clear. We’re looking for no nuclear weapons.” Iran called U.S. sanctions “economic war” on Monday, and said there could be no talks https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-khamenei/ with the United States until sanctions are irans-khamenei-tehran-will-not-abandon-its- lifted, a day after Washington suggested it missile-programme-idINKCN1T523F could hold talks without pre-conditions if Iran changed its behaviour. Iran rejects French call for wider talks beyond nuclear deal: state “#EconomicTerrorism against Iran targets innocent civilians. Like this little boy, whose TV heartbroken mother can’t get him prosthetic Parisa Hafezi, Reuters, June 7, 2019 legs as he grows. They’re sanctioned,” Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Iran rejected French calls for wider tweeted on Monday, with a video clip of a international talks over its nuclear and woman saying the prosthetic leg her son military ambitions, saying on Friday it needs is sanctioned. “This is would only discuss its existing 2015 atomic @realDonaldTrump’s ‘economic war’. And pact with world powers, state TV war and talks - with or without reported. preconditions - don’t go together,” Zarif French President Emmanuel Macron had added in the tweet. said a day earlier that Paris and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Washington both wanted to stop Tehran on Sunday that the United States was getting nuclear arms and new talks should prepared to engage with Iran without pre- focus on curbing its ballistic missiles conditions about its nuclear programme but programme and on other issues. needs to see the country behaving like “a But Iran’s foreign ministry said it would normal nation” first. not hold any discussions beyond the 2015 https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran/iran-calls- pact which U.S. President Donald Trump u-s-sanctions-economic-war-says-no-talks-until- abandoned last year as he pressed for they-are-lifted-idINKCN1T42GG tougher restrictions.

Iran’s Khamenei: Tehran will not “Under this circumstances, talking about issues beyond the deal ... will lead to abandon its missile programme further mistrust among the remaining Reuters, June 5, 2019 signatories of the deal,” foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said in a Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali statement. Khamenei said on Tuesday that Tehran would not be “deceived” by U.S. President https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear- Donald Trump’s offer of negotiations and france/iran-rejects-french-call-for-wider-talks- beyond-nuclear-deal-state-tv-idINKCN1T80YIz 39 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Heinonen: Iran’s nuclear scientists Tehran and Moscow on Syria, Seyyed are ‘the best of the best’ Afghahi said, “These are merely rumors and psychological warfare.” “I’m not Tehran Times, June 7, 2019 saying that our relations with the Russians Iran’s nuclear scientists are exceedingly are ideal. At the strategic level, the two savvy and they are talented engineers, said countries’ goals are identical, and the two Heinonen, who played a key role at the countries share similar views. But at the IAEA almost two decades ago. “They have tactical level, sometimes there are enormous resources. They went to the best disagreements between Iran, Russia and universities in the world. And when you Syria,” he remarked. look at the technicians who work in those https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436721/U- facilities, they are very different from those S-Israel-won-t-allow-the-likes-of-Saudis-to- I have seen who work in other acquire-atomic manufacturing industries, producing tanks or cars. They are the best of the best,” Zarif lambasts ‘conceited explained Heinonen who served as the interpretation’ of Resolution 2231 IAEA deputy director-general for safeguards. Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that there Tehran Times, June 8, 2019 are “strong indications” that Iran is in breach “Our missiles are not ‘designed’ for nukes, of its obligations under the Joint which we’re not developing,” Iran’s chief Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the diplomat said in a tweet he posted on official name for the nuclear 2015 deal. Friday. Zarif stated that the U.S. and its https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436675/ allies are in no position to criticize the Heinonen-Iran-s-nuclear-scientists-are-the-best- Islamic Republic’s missile program and of-the-best lashed out at the West for making arms deals with the countries that are killing the ‘U.S., Israel won’t allow the likes of Yemeni people. Zarif emphasized that the Saudis to acquire atomic bomb’ UN Security Council resolution does not enforces any prohibition on Iran’s Tehran Times, June 8, 2019 conventional missiles. French President Emmanuel Macron also on Thursday “I am certain that neither the U.S. nor the accused Tehran of making efforts to Zionist regime would ever allow any other achieve nuclear arms, saying France and country to reach nuclear weapons,” Seyyed the U.S. both wanted to stop Tehran getting Hadi Seyyed Afghahi said in an interview nuclear arms and new talks should focus with the Tehran Times. “The Zionist regime on curbing its ballistic missiles program wants to be the only superpower and and on other issues. Macron listed four nuclear power in the region. Hence, I highly common priorities of the U.S. and France doubt that the U.S. and the Zionist regime in addressing “Iranian behavior”: would allow Saudi Arabia or any other preventing Iran from getting a nuclear Arab country to acquire nuclear weapons.” weapon, reducing Iran’s He cited Washington’s constant pressure on North Korea over its nuclear weapons as an https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436697/ example that the U.S. would never allow Zarif-lambasts-conceited-interpretation-of- other countries, “let alone Arab ones”, to Resolution-2231 build atomic bombs.

Seyyed Afghahi also referred to Israel’s Iran’s Zarif says nuclear deal talks bombardment of Iraq’s nuclear facilities as with Germany were frank, serious yet another example. “The reason Israel Reuters, June 10, 2019 would not attack Iran is that firstly it is afraid of doing so, and secondly we have brought Iran and Germany held “frank and our nuclear activities under the law,” he serious” talks on saving the 2015 nuclear reasoned. He was asked about media deal with world powers, Foreign Minister speculations about disagreements between Mohammad Javad Zarif said. 40 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

“We had frank and serious talks with Iran to unveil phase II of stable (visiting German Foreign Minister Heiko) isotopes on June 22 Maas ... Tehran will cooperate with EU signatories of the deal to save it,” Zarif told Tehran Times, June 10, 2019 a joint news conference in Tehran. Iran is the 12th country that possesses this U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew technology which has various medical and from the pact last year and reimposed agricultural applications, he explained. sanctions on Iran. Stable isotopes are non-radioactive forms of atoms. Although they do not emit https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-zarif/ radiation, their unique properties enable irans-zarif-says-nuclear-deal-talks-with-germany- them to be used in a broad variety of were-frank-serious-idINKCN1TB0Y7 applications, including water and soil management, environmental studies, Iran has accelerated production of nutrition assessment studies, and forensics. enriched uranium, IAEA says https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436816/ Reuters, June 10, 2019 Iran-to-unveil-phase-II-of-stable-isotopes-on- June-22 Iran has followed through on its threat too accelerate its production of enriched Tehran says placed no order for uranium, the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s chief Russian S400 Yukiya Amano said on Monday. Tehran Times, June 10, 2019 Iran’s nuclear deal with major powers caps the amount of low-enriched uranium Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas can produce. Given fluctuations in Mousavi said in his weekly press production, it was not clear when Iran might conference on Monday that Iran does not reach that limit, Amano told a news need S-400 anti-missile defense system. conference, declining to elaborate further on “Iranian experts have devised one system the production rate. that is nothing short of the S-400 missile system,” Mousavi explained. https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea- enrichment/iran-has-accelerated-production-of- https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436819/ enriched-uranium-iaea-says-idINKCN1TB1LN Tehran-says-placed-no-order-for-Russian-S400

IAEA chief worried about rising Zarif: Anyone who starts war on tension over Iran nuclear issue Iran will not be the one who ends it Reuters, June 10, 2019 Tehran Times, June 10, 2019 The U.N. atomic watchdog’s chief said on Monday he was worried about rising During a joint press conference with tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme and German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in called for de-escalation through dialogue, Tehran, Zarif insisted on Tehran’s long- departing from his usual guarded language held position that Iran has not initiated and on the country. will not initiate a war with a country. He noted that no one can take a military “I am worried about increasing tensions over action against the Iranian people without the Iranian nuclear issue,” International receiving a “firm response”. “The only Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano way to reduce tension is stopping the said in a speech to a meeting of the IAEA’s economic war. One cannot expect that 35-nation Board of Governors, one of its those who have launched economic war main decision-making bodies. and those who support it can be safe when https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-iaea/ there is an economic war against the iaea-chief-worried-about-rising-tension-over-iran- Iranian ordinary people,” the chief nuclear-issue-idINKCN1TB0YH diplomat remarked. 41 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Zarif added, “This war is very dangerous UN watchdog confirms Iran’s for the region and the world. The United promised uranium enrichment States’ actions after quitting the JCPOA [the hike 2015 nuclear deal] have targeted the Iranian people who were supposed to enjoy the Tehran Times, June 11, 2019 benefits of this deal more than anyone else.” The assessment comes at a time of sharply He noted that Iran has remained committed increased U.S.-Iranian confrontation, a to its obligations under the Joint year after Washington abandoned an Comprehensive Plan of Action and this has international agreement that imposed been confirmed by the International Atomic curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program in Energy Agency for 15 times. exchange for the lifting of financial https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436799/Zarif- sanctions. Washington tightened sanctions Anyone-who-starts-war-on-Iran-will-not-be-the- on Iran from the start of May, ordering all one-who countries and companies to halt any imports of Iranian oil or be banished from UN atomic watchdog chief worried the global financial system. It also about tensions over Iran’s nuclear dispatched extra troops to the region to counter unspecified threats from Iran. issue Tehran Times, June 10, 2019 Iran responded with a threat to increase its enrichment of uranium, saying it was “I am worried about increasing tensions over up to European countries who still support the Iranian nuclear issue. As I have the nuclear deal to save it by finding ways constantly emphasized, the nuclear-related to ensure Tehran receives the economic commitments entered into by Iran under the benefits it was promised. JCPOA [the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] “Yes, production rate is increasing,” he represent a significant gain for nuclear told a news conference on Monday when verification. I therefore hope that ways can asked if enriched uranium production had be found to reduce current tensions through accelerated since the agency’s last dialogue. It is essential that Iran fully quarterly report, which found Iran implements its nuclear-related commitments compliant with the nuclear deal as of May under the JCPOA,” he said on Monday in 20. He declined to quantify the increase. an introductory statement to the board of Iran said last month it was still abiding by governors of the International Atomic the deal but would quadruple its Energy Agency. production of enriched uranium - a move that could take it out of compliance if He said, “On May 8th, Iran’s Supreme stockpiles rise too far. National Security Council announced that it had ‘issued an order to stop some of Iran’s https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436856/ measures under the JCPOA from today’.” UN-watchdog-confirms-Iran-s-promised- “The Agency continues to verify the non- uranium-enrichment-hike diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement. All nuclear deal parties must Evaluations regarding the absence of ‘equally’ honor their undeclared nuclear material and activities commitments: Iran in Iran continue,” he noted. On May 31, Amano reaffirmed Iran’s complying with the Tehran Times June 12, 2019 JCPOA. “All sides to the JCPOA must fulfil their commitments equally. If they cannot do https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436817/UN- atomic-watchdog-chief-worried-about-tensions- so, they should understand that we can over-Iran-s-nuclear review the JCPOA and our obligations by using the mechanisms that the JCPOA has provided us,” Foreign Ministry spokesman 42 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Abbas Mousavi said. His comments came as and prepare reports unbiasedly,” he said German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said during a meeting with Yukiya Amano, in a meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister head of the UN nuclear watchdog. Margot Wallstrom that if Iran quits the Dehghani also said Iran attaches great JCPOA, it will be isolated. Maas warned importance to practical actions by the that Iran’s withdrawal from the JCPOA will remaining signatories to the 2015 nuclear be harmful to both Europe and Iran. deal to preserve the pact, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436890/All- (JCPOA). nuclear-deal-parties-must-equally-honor-their- commitments Amano said that the JCPOA is a great achievement for verification. In an Rouhani: Sanctions and pressure are introductory statement to the IAEA board starting to lose their effectiveness of governors on Monday, Amano said he is worried about increasing tensions over Tehran Times, June 12, 2019 the Iranian nuclear issue. “The Iranian people should know that the https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436889/ U.S. pressure against our country has IAEA-should-see-all-aspect-and-be-unbiased- reached its climax and actually it is losing Iranian-diplomat its effect,” Rouhani told a cabinet session. The Trump administration has used its New Chinese envoy submits excessive force to squeeze Iran economically. It has threatened to punish any country or credentials to Zarif company that buys oil from Iran. It has also Tehran Times, June 12, 2019 slapped sanctions on Iran’s petrochemical and steel industries. Analysts say the only During the meeting, the two weighed thing that the United States has not started plans to implement the agreements signed against Iran so far is military war, although recently between Iran and China among Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad other things, Tasnim reported. The two Zarif has said there is no difference between sides also discussed developments in Iran- “economic war” and “military war”. China ties and their cooperation on various issues, including the 2015 nuclear Rouhani said, “Undoubtedly, what the U.S. pact, transportation, energy industry and has done against the Iranian people is a clear terror fight. In May last year, Zarif hailed example of economic terrorism. This will be the “serious and friendly” negotiations recorded in history as what the with Chinese officials during a short trip ‘executioners’ do against the Iranian people. to Beijing, saying the two countries enjoy However, the Iranian people have resisted strategic relations that are not influenced despite all the pressures.” Referring to by outsiders. He also described China as remarks made by German Foreign Minister Iran’s major trade partner and a party to Heiko Maas, Rouhani said other countries the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action have acknowledged the Iranian people’s (JCPOA) that could play a major role in “greatness” and know that the U.S. is on strengthening the international consensus the “wrong path”. on saving the accord.

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436891/ https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436904/ Rouhani-Sanctions-and-pressure-are-starting-to- New-Chinese-envoy-submits-credentials-to- lose-their-effectiveness Zarif

IAEA should see all aspect and be Iran’s Rouhani says security in the unbiased: Iranian diplomat Gulf is highly important to Iran Tehran Times, June 12, 2019 Reuters, June 13, 2019 “In the current situation, the Agency [the Security in the Gulf is of high importance IAEA] is duty bound to see all the aspects to Iran, President Hassan Rouhani said on 43 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Thursday, hours after two tankers in the spheres of energy, development of Gulf of Oman were evacuated following infrastructures for sustainable, strategic suspected attacks. relations with China in providing China with energy.” Rouhani also said Iran “Security is of high importance to Iran in welcomes “China’s investment” in the sensitive region of the Persian Gulf, in projects in “southern regions and ports”. the Middle East, in Asia and in the whole world. We have always tried to secure peace https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436956/ and stability in the region,” Rouhani said in Rouhani-says-Iran-China-s-resistance-against- a speech broadcast live on state television. U-S-unilateralism

https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-tanker-iran- U.S. bullying has brought Iran, rouhani/irans-rouhani-says-security-in-the-gulf- China, Russia closer together: is-highly-important-to-iran-idINKCN1TE1XG Rouhani aide Iran calls for regional cooperation to Tehran Times, June 14, 2019 protect strategic waterways - Fars “America’s maximum pressure [policy] Reuters, June 13, 2019 has changed the strategic analyses of China and Russia about the near future,” Iran’s government spokesman voiced Ashna said on his Twitter account on concern on Thursday over suspected attacks Friday. Ashena, who was accompanying on tankers in the Gulf of Oman and said Rouhani to the Shanghai Cooperation Tehran was ready for regional security Organization summit in Bishkek on cooperation to protect strategic waterways. Thursday Friday where leaders of China “All countries in the region should be careful and Russia were present, described U.S. not to fall in the trap of those who benefit sanctions and pressures as a “paper tiger” from regional insecurity,” Ali Rabei was which will not withstand against “common quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. resistance” of the three countries.

https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-tanker-iran- “If anyone had intended to strengthen this rabei/iran-calls-for-regional-cooperation-to-protect- axis, they should be regarded as close to strategic-waterways-fars-idINKCN1TE1D2 their success,” the advisor added. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an Rouhani says Iran, China’s interview published on Thursday that the resistance against U.S. current U.S. administration had imposed unilateralism benefits world dozens of sanctions on Russia, and contrasted Moscow’s troubled relationship Tehran Times, June 14, 2019 with Washington with what he described as its blossoming ties with China. During a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436954/U- Cooperation Organization summit in S-bullying-has-brought-Iran-China-Russia- Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Rouhani said, “The closer-together Iranian people have shown that they become more united and strong against the Iran months from hitting enriched external pressure and they do not become uranium cap despite acceleration weak.” He noted that the U.S. administration’s pressure against Iran and Reuters, June 14, 2019 China aimed at dominating the world. Iran has multiplied the speed at which it Elsewhere, Rouhani said that Iran’s relations enriches uranium but it is still far from the with China are “strategic”. The two maximum rate possible under its nuclear countries have many capacities to expand deal with major powers, meaning it would ties, he added. He said, “Iran is interested be months before production ceilings are in continuing cooperation with China in hit, diplomats who follow it say. 44 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Since it withdrew from the deal, Washington to the pact show “positive signals”, the has reinstated its sanctions against Tehran Iranian president said on Saturday as and added new ones in a bid to isolate the tensions with the United States escalated Islamic Republic - an effort Iran calls over tanker attacks in the Gulf region. Iran “economic terrorism”. Iran’s response has stopped complying in May with some included accelerating uranium enrichment, commitments in the 2015 nuclear deal that which is allowed under the deal but shortens was agreed with global powers, after the the time in which it will reach the deal’s cap United States unilaterally withdrew from on its stock of enriched uranium. the accord in 2018 and ratcheted up sanctions on Tehran. Inspectors from the U.N. atomic watchdog, which is policing the deal’s nuclear “Obviously, Iran cannot stick to this restrictions, told member states last week agreement unilaterally,” President Hassan that Iran has accelerated its uranium Rouhani told Russian, Chinese and other enrichment to around 12 kg a month, Asian leaders at a conference in Tajikistan. roughly three times the previous rate, “Obviously, Iran cannot stick to this diplomats who attended the quarterly agreement unilaterally,” President Hassan technical briefing said. Rouhani told Russian, Chinese and other Asian leaders at a conference in Tajikistan. https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear- His comments follow rising tensions with enrichment/iran-months-from-hitting-enriched- Washington, which has accused Tehran uranium-cap-despite-acceleration-idINKCN1TF2DK of carrying out Thursday’s attacks on two oil tankers in a vital oil shipping route at Iran fast-boats preventing towing of the mouth of the Gulf. Tehran has denied damaged Altair tanker: source having any role.

Reuters, June 14, 2019 https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear/iran- Iranian military fast-boats in the Gulf of renews-nuclear-pact-ultimatum-amid-tensions- Oman are preventing two privately owned with-u-s-idINKCN1TG04Q tug boats from towing away an oil tanker damaged in attacks on Thursday, a U.S. Everyone is concerned about fate official said on Friday, speaking on condition of nuclear deal, Putin says of anonymity. Tehran Times, June 15, 2019 The U.S. official did not say how the United Addressing the Conference on Interaction States knew of the reported standoff and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia between the Iranian fast-boats and the tug (CICA) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Putin boats, which were trying to tie up and tow said, “The United States’ withdrawal from away the Norwegian-owned Front Altair. the agreement has significantly impeded The United States blames Iran for Thursday’s its implementation, and has had a negative attacks against the Altair and the Japanese- effect on the overall situation in nuclear owned Kokuka Courageous. Tehran denies non-proliferation.” “We believe that the the accusations. only reasonable solution is for all https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-attacks-usa- signatories to continue honoring their tugboats/iran-fast-boats-preventing-towing-of- commitments under the Plan, and this is damaged-altair-tanker-source-idINKCN1TF2AX what Russia is set to do,” he said. Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping issued a Iran renews nuclear pact ultimatum statement on June 7 denouncing the unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. amid tensions with U.S against Iran. Reuters, June 15, 2019 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437017/ Iran will continue scaling back compliance Everyone-is-concerned-about-fate-of-nuclear- with a nuclear deal unless other signatories deal-Putin-says 45 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

INSTEX remains non-operational, summits extremely useful, necessary and Larijani says effective. Tehran Times, June 15, 2019 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437013/ Iran-cannot-stick-to-nuclear-deal-unilaterally- “Despite various talks, the French Rouhani president’s promise to the Iranian president for preserving Barjam (nuclear deal) has not Iran urges U.S., allies to stop ‘false been met and it should be actually said that flag operations’ in region the INSTEX mechanism has remained on the paper,” Larijani said, according to the Mehr Tehran Times, June 15, 2019 news agency. European countries established INSTEX in January to help shield “The inflammatory remarks by the U.S. trade with Iran from U.S. sanctions imposed representative against Iran at the UN after President Donald Trump withdrew Security Council on 13 June 2019 was from the multinational nuclear deal in May another Iranophobic campaign. Iran categorically rejects the U.S.’ unfounded 2018. On March 20, Iran’s central bank claim with regard to 13 June oil tanker governor Abdolnaser Hemmati announced incidents and condemns it in the strongest that a mechanism similar to INSTEX has possible terms,” the mission said in a been registered in Iran, officially called the statement on Thursday. Special Trade and Finance Institute (STFI). “Neither fabrications and disinformation https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437007/ campaigns nor shamelessly blaming others INSTEX-remains-non-operational-Larijani-says can change the realities. The U.S. and its regional allies must stop warmongering Iran cannot stick to nuclear deal and put an end to mischievous plots as unilaterally: Rouhani well as false flag operations in the region. Warning, once again, about all of the U.S. Tehran Times, June 15, 2019 coercion, intimidation, and malign “It is obvious that Iran cannot unilaterally behavior, Iran expresses concern over remain committed to the JCPOA, and it is suspicious incidents for the oil tankers that necessary that the other countries contribute occurred today,” the statement added. to the survival of this important agreement,” https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436981/ he said during a speech at the Conference Iran-urges-U-S-allies-to-stop-false-flag-opera- on Interaction and Confidence-Building tions-in-region Measures in Asia (CICA) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Rouhani also said that Iran has H. Israel acted as a powerful barrier against Takfiri terrorism. Netanyahu tells Japan’s Abe to pressure Iran as he prepares for He emphasized that, in today’s world, a Tehran visit country cannot cope with the challenges and take advantage of opportunities alone, and The Times of Isreal, June 8, 2019 achieving an acceptable level of peace, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke stability and development requires the Friday with Japanese Prime Minister development of regional cooperation and Shinzo Abe ahead of the latter’s upcoming dialogue aimed at strengthening visit to Iran. understanding. The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is based on Netanyahu said he told Abe that it was cooperation, and finding ways to achieve necessary to maintain pressure on Tehran common interests, mutual benefit and, in a to counter Iranian expansion in the Middle word, win-win policy. In this context, we East. consider cooperation with the countries of the region and the use of the mechanism of https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-tells- multilateral dialogue in the form of CICA japans-abe-to-pressure-iran-as-he-prepares-for- tehran-visit/ 46 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Netanyahu: Zarif Is Lying; We behind the attacks and did not mention Won’t Allow Iran To Develop Iran, which has been accused by the Nuclear Weapons United States of being directly responsible. The attacks required expert navigation of The Jerusalem Post, June 11, 2019 fast boats and trained divers who likely placed limpet mines with a high degree of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu precision on the vessels under the slammed Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs waterline to incapacitate but not sink Mohammad Javad Zarif in a video released them, according to the preliminary findings on Monday, calling him a serial liar. of the countries’ joint investigation. Netanyahu said that it is “Iran who is openly threatening to destroy [Israel].” The May 12 attacks targeted two Saudi tankers, an Emirati vessel and a https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Netanyahu- Norwegian tanker, causing no casualties Zarif-is-lying-we-wont-allow-Iran-to-develop- but fueling tensions between the United Nuclear-weapons-592060 States and Iran during weeks of escalating rhetoric. US national security adviser John Radioactive material leaked from Bolton said on May 29 that the attacks Israel’s nuclear reactor several were the work of “naval mines almost times certainly from Iran.” Tehran denied the accusations. Middle East Monitor, June 12, 2019 A Israeli court heard yesterday that http://www.arabnews.com/node/1507351/ radioactive material has leaked from the middle-east Dimona nuclear reactor several times since it was built, Arab48 reported. Nuclear power the best solution for Saudi Arabia This was revealed during a case against the reactor filed by a former worker who is Ellen R. Wald, Arab News,June 10, 2019 battling cancer. Serious power outages in Saudi Arabia last weekend once again highlighted the According to the Israeli general radio, the importance of power generation in the reactor recognised the leaks after workers modernized, urbanized Kingdom. In the complained; no further details were given. heat of June and at the end of Ramadan, https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190612- cities in Saudi Arabia simply cannot go radioactive-material-leaked-from-israels-nuclear- without electricity. This is why it is reactor-several-times/ imperative for the Kingdom to build nuclear power plants. However, the world I. Saudi Arabia gets nervous whenever a new country enters the nuclear power community. To Saudi Arabia, UAE, Norway tell UN alleviate this global anxiety, there are steps Security Council tanker attacker Saudi Arabia can and should take. It ‘most likely a state actor’ would be easy to reassure the naysayers and set an example for peaceful nuclear Arab News, June 7, 2019 stewardship.

The United Arab Emirates told United Saudi Arabia is the only G-20 country that Nations Security Council members on burns large amounts of oil for electricity Thursday that attacks on four tankers off generation. In 2016, 40 percent of its its coast on May 12 bore the hallmarks of a electricity still came from oil. Almost all of “sophisticated and coordinated operation,” the rest of its electricity comes from natural most likely by a state actor. In a document gas. Nuclear power plants can be bought on the briefing to Security Council members, from South Korea, Russia, the US and the UAE, joined by Norway and Saudi others. South Korean and Russian Arabia, did not say who it believed was companies already presented ideas to the 47 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Kingdom in 2018, and a French firm used by the outlawed country to carry out participated in sight plans. Once plants are undeclared nuclear activities, that may built, the management can be handled by target the security of the states in the Saudis, with specific contracts to foreign region, and to take the necessary measures firms. There is no need for Saudi Arabia to to ensure that Iran is not able to develop try to develop the project itself or to mine or techniques that may be used for military enrich its own uranium. The best thing to purposes. “The peoples of the region do do is tell the world this and show the world not need nuclear weapons to achieve this is not about weapons. Saudi Arabia security, stability, peace and development. should go above and beyond what the world Instead of this, they need enhancing of asks, sign any agreement and welcome any cooperation and building of confidence nuclear inspectors. Show the world that this and good-neighborliness as well as to use is not about war but about averting any their resources for the well-being and potential domestic economic and development of their peoples.” humanitarian crisis. Shraheli stressed that the international http://www.arabnews.com/node/1508851 community cannot ignore the true nature of Iran’s intentions, which is evident by Saudi air defence intercepts two its aggressive behavior towards the Houthi drones - SPA countries in the region, in view of its hostile policy and tendency towards Reuters, June 11, 2019 expansion and hegemony, with testing of Saudi Arabia’s air defence forces intercepted ballistic missiles and developing other two drones launched by Yemen’s Houthis military devices. and targeting the city of Khamis Mushait, a http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/568786/ Saudi led coalition spokesman said in SAUDI-ARABIA/Stop-Iran-from-expanding- statement released by Saudi Press Agency nuclear-program-Saudi-Arabia early on Tuesday.

The Statement gave no further details. Riyadh meeting reviews enhancing Saudi-French nuclear Houthi-run Masirah TV reported earlier on cooperation Monday that the Iran-aligned movement had carried out attacks on King Khalid Saudi Gazette, June 13, 2019 airbase near Khamis Mushait in The fourth joint meeting of the Saudi- southwestern Saudi Arabia. French Nuclear Committee reviewed the existing cooperation in the field of peaceful https://in.reuters.com/article/yemen-security- saudi-attacks/saudi-air-defence-intercepts-two- uses of atomic energy between the houthi-drones-spa-idINKCN1TB2PJ Kingdom and France and ways to further enhancing it in a way supportive to the Stop Iran from expanding nuclear Saudi National Atomic Energy Project. program: Saudi Arabia Dr. Khalid Al-Sultan, president of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Saudi Gazette, June 12, 2019 Energy (KACARE) and the French Saudi Arabia urged the international Ambassador to the Kingdom François community and inspectors of International Gouyette co-chaired the meeting held at Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to increase the headquarters of KACARE in Riyadh. pressure on Iran to halt expanding its During the meeting, the two sides nuclear program by publicizing further discussed joint activities to develop human information related to Iran’s nuclear capacities in the field of atomic energy. activities. The meeting reviewed the National Energy Shraheli called for intensifying inspection Policy and the Nuclear Energy Industry within Iran to identify any sites likely to be of France and their main partners. The two 48 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

sides also discussed the developments made vital interests.” In an interview with by joint working groups regarding Asharq Al-Awsat, the Crown Prince said cooperation in research fields of atomic that the Kingdom “supported the re- energy, as well as development of human imposition of US sanctions on Iran out of capacities and competencies in the fields of our belief that the international community nuclear energy and radioactive waste needed to take a decisive stance against management. The discussions also figured Iran.” cooperation in the field of nuclear legislative control (safety and security) in coordination He hoped that the Iranian regime “would with the Saudi Arabian Atomic Regulatory opt to become a normal state and cease its Authority. hostile policy.” The Crown Prince told Asharq Al-Awsat that attacks on oil http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/568845/ tankers in the Gulf, oil facilities in the SAUDI-ARABIA/Riyadh-meeting-reviews- Kingdom and Abha airport “underscore enhancing-Saudi-French-nuclear-cooperation the importance of our demand before the international community to take a decisive Royal Saudi and US air forces carry stance against an expansionist regime that out exercise over Arabian Gulf has supported terrorism and spread death and destruction over the past decades not Arab News, June 16, 2019 only in the region, but the whole world.” He criticized Iran for using the nuclear Royal Saudi Air Force aircraft and F-15C deal’s economic benefits “to support its Eagle fighter jets belonging to the US Air hostile acts in the region.” Force flew in formation over the Arabian Gulf Sunday, supported by both Saudi and http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/568996/ US air-to-air refueling aircraft. The aim of SAUDI-ARABIA/Crown-Prince-calls-for- the exercise was to continue to strengthen decisive-international-position-against-Iran military relations between the two countries.

US officials have recently said that there has J. Qatar been a surge in intelligence pointing to Qatar seeks thaw in US-Iran row Iranian preparations for attacks against US forces and interests in the Gulf region. In TRT World, June 9, 2019 response to those intelligence warnings, the Qatari FM Sheikh Mohammed bin US on May 5 announced it was accelerating Abdulrahman al Thani urges both sides the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln to find a compromise and begin aircraft carrier battle group to the Gulf negotiations, warns against imposing US- region. It also sent four nuclear-capable B- led “deal of the century” on the 52 bombers to Qatar and has beefed up its Palestinians. defenses in the region by deploying more Patriot air defense systems. Qatar has been talking to both Iran and the United States about de-escalation, http://www.arabnews.com/node/1511556/saudi- Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh arabia Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani told reporters in London on Sunday, Crown Prince calls for decisive urging both sides to meet and find a international position against Iran compromise.

Saudi Gazette, June 16, 2019 Tensions have risen between Iran and the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, United States in recent weeks after Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Washington reimposed economic Defense, said that Saudi Arabia does not sanctions on Iran after unilaterally want a war in the region, but stressed that withdrawing out of a big-power nuclear it “will not hesitate in dealing with any deal, and sending forces to the Middle East threat against our people, sovereignty and in a show of force to counter what US 49 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

officials called Iranian threats to US troops deal. Two years later, news that Riyadh and regional interests. was seeking to extend its missile capabilities has resurrected claims that the https://www.trtworld.com/middle-east/qatar-seeks- Kingdom is involved in an “arms race” thaw-in-us-iran-row-27351 with other countries in the region. However, there has always been an arms Qatar urges de-escalation in U.S.- race in the Middle East between rival Iran row powers and it’s not clear that the current expansion is different than past build-ups Reuters, June 9, 2019 of military equipment. What might make Qatar and other countries have been talking it different is if Iran actually tried to build to both Iran and the United States about de- a nuclear weapon. CNN reported on June escalation, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh 5 that the US government “has obtained Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said intelligence that Saudi Arabia has on Sunday, urging both sides to meet and significantly escalated its ballistic missile find a compromise. program with the help of China.” This was despite US efforts to prevent missile “We believe that at one point there should proliferation in the Middle East, the article an engagement – it cannot last forever like noted. “Discovery of the Saudi efforts has this,” he told reporters in London on heightened concerns among members of Sunday. “Since they are not willing to Congress over a potential arms race in the engage in further escalation, they should Middle East.” A subsequent article noted come up with ideas that open the doors.” that “exactly the White House’s decision to bend itself out of shape to suit the Sheikh Mohammed said several countries Saudi’s current thirst for more and better including Qatar, Oman Iraq and Japan had weapons, in a region already exhausted been urging de-escalation with the two sides. by conflict, will lead in the years ahead is unclear.” The controversy with Saudi “All these countries are concerned what Arabia involves its interest in developing escalation could lead to,” he said. “There nuclear technology and allegations that were attempts by Qatar and by other the missiles it might be seeking could go countries in the region to de-escalate the against three decades of US policy that situation: we have been speaking to the U.S. seek to prevent the acquisition of weapons and we have been talking to the Iranians as that could include payloads of weapons well.” of mass destruction. The logic is that if you “What we are trying to do is really to bridge add up Riyadh’s nuclear ambitions and its the gap and create a conversation between missile ambitions, it points in that the two parties as escalation is not going to direction. Add in the billions of arms sales, benefit anyone in the region,” he said. and that the Kingdom has become a 21st century military version of 18th century https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-iran-qatar/qatar- Prussia, so the argument goes. In May urges-de-escalation-in-u-s-iran-row- Trump approved $8 billion in weapons idINKCN1TA0OO sales to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, maneuvering K. UAE around Congressional concerns. This came amid rising tensions with Iran. The Understanding The Saudi, Uae problem with the arms race narrative is Arms Deals And Iran that there is no new arms race in the Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post, June Middle East. 10, 2019 https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Under- In May 2017 US President Donald Trump standing-the-Saudi-UAE-arms-deals-and-Iran- and Saudi Arabia inked a $110 billion arms 591895 50 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Frontline oil tanker struck by L. Turkey torpedo off UAE coast - Tradewinds US gives Turkey July 31 deadline Reuters, June 13, 2019 to scrap Russian S-400 missile An oil tanker owned by Norway’s Frontline defence system deal has been struck by a torpedo off the coast of South China Morning Post, June 8, 2019 Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, shipping newspaper Tradewinds reported on The Pentagon has warned Turkey that it Thursday, citing unnamed industry sources. will suspend training of its pilots on the advanced F-35 fighter jet at the end of July Frontline was not immediately available for and terminate Turkey’s participation in the comment. fighter jet programme if it buys Russia’s S-400 missile defence system. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which is part of the Royal Navy, The Pentagon has warned Turkey that it had said on Thursday it was aware of an will suspend training of its pilots on the incident in the Gulf of Oman, near the advanced F-35 fighter jet at the end of July Iranian coast. and terminate Turkey’s participation in the fighter jet programme if it buys Russia’s https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-tanker- S-400 missile defence system. frontline/frontline-oil-tanker-struck-by-torpedo- off-uae-coast-tradewinds-idINKCN1TE0PO https://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/ article/3013653/us-sets-deadline-july-31- State sponsor behind May tanker turkey-backtrack-russian-s-400 attacks, says UAE minister Turkish F-35 pilots no longer Reuters, June 14, 2019 flying at U.S. base - Pentagon The UAE’s foreign minister said on Saturday Phil Stewart, Reuters, June 11, 2019 a “state sponsor” was involved in a May 12 attack on oil tankers in the Gulf, but did not Training by Turkish pilots on F-35 fighter name any particular country. jets has come to a faster-than-expected halt at a U.S. air base in Arizona, U.S. officials He did not mention attacks on two other said on Monday, as the United States tankers this week in the same area. The winds down Ankara’s involvement in the United States has said Iran was involved in program over Turkey’s plans to buy a both the May and the June incidents - Russian air defence system. The United accusations dismissed by Tehran. States says Turkey’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defences poses a threat to the “Our conclusion is this has only been possible Lockheed Martin Corp’s F-35 stealthy by a state-sponsored attack,” Al Nahyan told fighters, which Turkey also plans to buy. reporters after meeting his Cypriot Washington says Ankara cannot have both. counterpart in Nicosia, referring to the May attack. “We haven’t named the state, but we The move to halt training at Luke Air Force hope that we can further work with our Base, first reported by Reuters, came just friends and partners in preventing such days after acting U.S. Defence Secretary escalations from moving forward,” he added. Patrick Shanahan told his Turkish counterpart that Turkish pilots already in The May 12 attacks targeted two Saudi the United States could remain there until tankers, an Emirati vessel and a Norwegian the end of July. That would have allowed tanker, causing no casualties but fueling time for more training and for Turkey to tensions between the United States and Iran rethink its plans. during weeks of escalating rhetoric. https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-turkey-f35/ https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-attacks- turkish-f-35-pilots-no-longer-flying-at-u-s-base- emirates/state-sponsor-behind-may-tanker-attacks- pentagon-idINKCN1TB2LE says-uae-minister-idINKCN1TG07F 51 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

U.S. has not taken up offer to create Erdogan spokesman Kalin says S-400 working group, Turkey says discussed F-35 letter with Bolton Tuvan Gumrukcu, Reuters, June 11, 2019 on phone The United States has not yet taken up Reuters, June 13, 2019 Turkey’s suggestion of creating a joint Turkey’s presidential spokesman Ibrahim working group to try to defuse tensions over Kalin said on Thursday he spoke on the Ankara’s purchase of the Russian S-400 phone with President Donald Trump’s missile defence systems, a senior Turkish national security advisor John Bolton to defence official said on Monday. discuss a letter sent by the Pentagon about Ankara’s removal from the F-35 jets The two NATO allies have sparred publicly program. for months over Turkey’s order for the S- 400s, which are not compatible with the Washington has warned Turkey against transatlantic alliance’s systems. Washington buying and installing Russian S-400 missile says the S-400s pose a threat to the Lockheed defence systems. Speaking at a press Martin Corp F-35 fighters and has warned conference in Ankara following a cabinet of potential U.S. sanctions if Ankara presses meeting, Kalin said he hoped the Pentagon on with the deal. would abandon its current attitude towards Turkey, which he said could Turkey, one of the core partners in the F-35 permanently damage ties between the two programme and a prospective buyer, has NATO allies. said the S-400s will not impact the jets and has proposed to Washington forming a joint U.S. Acting Secretary of Defence Patrick working group to assess U.S. concerns. Shanahan last week sent his Turkish counterpart a letter warning that Ankara https://in.reuters.com/article/turkey-usa-defense/ would be pulled out of the F-35 jet u-s-has-not-taken-up-offer-to-create-s-400- programme unless it changes course from working-group-turkey-says-idINKCN1TB1XA its plans to install the S-400 defences. Kalin also said Erdogan was set to meet with Frontline oil tanker struck by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end torpedo off UAE coast - Tradewinds of June during the G20 meeting in Japan. Reuters, June 13, 2019 Turkey says would retaliate An oil tanker owned by Norway’s Frontline against U.S. sanctions over has been struck by a torpedo off the coast of Russian S-400s Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, shipping newspaper Tradewinds reported Reuters, June 15, 2019 on Thursday, citing unnamed industry Turkey will “take reciprocal steps” if the sources. United States imposes sanctions over its Frontline was not immediately available for purchase of Russian S-400 defences, the comment. Turkish foreign minister said on Friday, marking the latest step toward a standoff The United Kingdom Maritime Trade between the NATO allies. Operations, which is part of the Royal Navy, had said on Thursday it was aware of an “If the United States takes any negative incident in the Gulf of Oman, near the actions towards us, we will also take Iranian coast. reciprocal steps,” Mevlut Cavusoglu, the minister, said when asked about possible https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-tanker- U.S. sanctions in an interview broadcast frontline/frontline-oil-tanker-struck-by-torpedo- on Turkish TV. off-uae-coast-tradewinds-idINKCN1TE0PO Ankara and Washington have sparred publicly for months over Turkey’s 52 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

purchase of the S-400 missile systems, criticized Mimura for promoting the expected to be delivered as early as next central government’s nuclear power month. Washington has said that would policy, but was unable to gain broad trigger U.S. sanctions and sent a letter support from voters. warning that Ankara would be pulled out of the F-35 jet programme. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/06/03/ national/politics-diplomacy/pro-nuclear- The Turkish lira weakened to as far as 5.93 incumbent-shingo-mimura-wins-fifth-term- against U.S. dollar after the comment, to its aomori-gubernatorial-election/#.XQifdNQza00 weakest level in two weeks. Japan plans carbon emission cuts, https://in.reuters.com/article/turkey-usa-sanc- more nuclear energy tions/turkey-says-would-retaliate-against-u-s- sanctions-over-russian-s-400s-idINKCN1TF0QR Mari Yamaguchi, AP News, June 7, 2019 Japan is calling for further efforts to cut EAST ASIA its carbon emissions by promoting M. Japan renewable energy while also pushing nuclear power despite its 2011 Fukushima Pro-nuclear incumbent Shingo nuclear plant disaster. An energy policy Mimura wins fifth term in Aomori paper, adopted by the Cabinet on Friday, gubernatorial election said Japan faces the urgent task of reducing carbon emissions by utilities that Japan Times, June 3, 2019 rely heavily on fossil fuel plants to make up for shortages of cleaner nuclear energy. Shingo Mimura, a pro-nuclear incumbent, The call comes as nuclear reactors around won his fifth term in the Aomori Japan are slowly being restarted — despite gubernatorial election on Sunday, stressing lingering anti-nuclear sentiment since the his past achievements and focusing away Fukushima crisis — after being shut down from the area’s involvement in the country’s to meet tougher safety standards. nuclear fuel recycling policy during campaigning. The incumbent garnered Japan wants renewable energy’s share in 329,048 votes, against 105,466 votes 2030 to grow to 22-24% of the country’s collected by Sahara. Voter turnout stood at power supply from 16%, while pushing 40.08 percent. nuclear energy to 20-22% from just 3% in The prefecture hosts a cluster of nuclear 2017. The report said the cost of facilities, including an incomplete plant in renewables also needs to be reduced. Rokkasho where spent uranium fuel will be https://www.apnews.com/ reprocessed for recycling. During the 17-day 3d2a01a254f940d79f8101ea0809f1a7 official campaigning, Mimura touted his role in having expanded agricultural exports and Abe pushing idea that Fukushima promoted administrative reforms, while mostly avoiding discussion of the nuclear disaster is ‘under control’ controversial nuclear policy. Aomori The Asahi Shimbun, June 11, 2019 Prefecture received about ¥20 billion in nuclear fuel tax income from nuclear facility Without special protection against operators in fiscal 2017, accounting for radiation, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe about 11 percent of the prefecture’s annual stood on elevated ground about 100 meters tax revenue. A person involved in Mimura’s from the three melted-down reactors at the campaign said there were many residents Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. “I in Aomori Prefecture who did not want the was finally able to see the view just nuclear issue to be the focus of the election wearing a normal suit without having to as they financially benefit from having the wear protective clothing and a mask (for fuel recycling facilities there. Sahara, who radiation),” he said on April 14 after opposes nuclear power generation, hearing explanations from Tokyo Electric 53 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Power Co. officials. “The decommissioning Japan premier warns US, Iran work has been making progress in earnest.” ‘accidental conflict’ possible An act of bravado, perhaps. But it was more Amir Vahdat, Aya Batrawy And Jon likely one of the ways Abe and his Gambrell, AP News, June 12, 2019 government want to show that the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Fukushima disaster is, as he famously said, traveled to Tehran on Wednesday to warn “under control.” Progress has been made, that an “accidental conflict” could be albeit slowly, for the monumental task of sparked amid heightened tensions decommissioning TEPCO’s crippled nuclear between Iran and the U.S., a message that plant. But radiation levels in certain areas came hours after Yemen’s Iranian-backed of the plant are still lethal with extended Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi airport, exposure. The problem of storing water wounding 26 people. Abe’s trip is the contaminated in the reactors continues. highest-level effort yet to de-escalate the http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ crisis as Tehran appears poised to break AJ201906110001.html the 2015 nuclear deal it struck with world powers, an accord that the Trump Japan premier hopes to ease US- administration pulled out of last year. It’s Iran tensions in Tehran visit also the first visit of a sitting Japanese premier in the 40 years since the Islamic Jon Gambrell And Mari Yamaguchi, AP Revolution. News, June 11, 2019 But success may prove difficult for Abe, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s trip as the Houthi rebel attack on Saudi to Tehran represents the highest-level effort Arabia’s Abha regional airport yet to de-escalate tensions between the U.S. underscored. The attack is just the latest and Iran as the country appears poised to in a wave of rebel drone and missile attacks break the 2015 nuclear deal it struck with targeting the kingdom, which has been world powers that America earlier mired in a yearslong war in Yemen that abandoned. But while Abe’s trip to Iran has killed an estimated 60,000 people and marks the first visit of a sitting Japanese pushed the Arab world’s poorest nation premier in the 40 years since the Islamic to the brink of famine. Revolution, it remains unclear if he’ll end up going home with any success. Iran is https://apnews.com/ threatening to resume enriching uranium 3b7344d750fa48a7a104adf73bc59456 closer to weapons-grade level on July 7 if European allies fail to offer it new terms. Tighter rules for drones spark While President Donald Trump says he fears about the right to know wants to talk to Tehran, the U.S. has piled on sanctions that have seen Iran’s rial Shinichi Fujiwara, The Asahi Shimbun, currency plummet along with its crucial oil June 13, 2019 exports. Tighter but somewhat vague regulations on operating drones took effect June 13, “Just going to Iran doesn’t resolve any igniting concerns that limits on where the problem,” said Kazuo Takahashi, an Open devices can fly could infringe on the University of Japan professor of public’s right to know. Under the revised international politics and expert on the drone regulation law, the unmanned Middle East. “He would have to help open aircraft cannot operate over U.S. military a path of dialogue between the U.S. and or Japanese Self-Defense Forces facilities Iran, and that could be a major risk.” unless prior permission is granted. The ban https://apnews.com/ includes surrounding areas extending to 101028de68644291ac7a368c9f1e736e 300 meters. The government says the restrictions are necessary to thwart terrorist attacks. 54 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

While standards on consent remain unclear, Prefecture next March due to a delay in it appears likely that wide areas will be upgrades to protect it from terror attacks, declared off-limits to drones. This has sources said June 13. The Nuclear sparked fears that the public’s right to know Regulation Authority (NRA) decided at a could be infringed, for example, in the event meeting on June 12 that it would order of an aircraft crash at a military base or electric power companies to suspend trying to gauge the impact of environmental operations of their reactors unless such pollution in a construction project. anti-terror facilities are completed about a week before the set deadlines. As the http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ deadline for the No. 1 reactor work is AJ201906130043.html March 17, 2020, and the completion is expected to be delayed by about one year, Abe to Khamenei: Trump does not operations will cease the following day. want to escalate tensions The company is already working 24 hours The Asahi Shimbun, June 13, 2019 a day on the project, and some have said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on June 13 told that it would be difficult to take further Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali measures to increase the speed of Khamenei, that the United States has no construction from a worker safety intention of escalating tensions with Tehran. standpoint. Under such circumstances, “When I met with U.S. President Donald there has been a growing view that it Trump, he said that he did not want to see would be impossible to meet the deadline, an escalation in tensions (with Iran),” Abe and thus the firm judged that it cannot told reporters after his meeting with help but suspend the reactor’s operation. Khamenei, the first by a Japanese leader. “I http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ gave Ayatollah Khamenei my frank view of AJ201906140067.html what I felt to be the intentions held by the U.S. president. By meeting directly with NRA safety license for Sendai Ayatollah Khamenei, I was able to hear about his beliefs on peace. I am of the reactors legal, Fukuoka court opinion that major progress has been made finds, dismissing volcano risk toward securing peace and stability in this lawsuit region,” Japan Times, June 17, 2019 “Ayatollah Khamenei also said that Iran has A district court said on Monday it found no intention of manufacturing, possessing nothing illegal with a safety clearance or using nuclear weapons,” Abe told granted to two reactors in Kyushu that reporters. “While the path toward easing were restarted after the 2011 Fukushima tensions will be a very difficult one, I want nuclear crisis, dismissing a demand for a to make further efforts for the sake of peace retraction filed by plaintiffs who said it in this region as well as for peace and ignored the risk of volcanic eruptions. The stability in the world.” lawsuit was filed by 33 plaintiffs against a license authorizing design changes at http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ AJ201906130061.html reactors 1 and 2 at the Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture Sendai reactor to stop due to delay under tougher post-Fukushima safety regulations. in anti-terror upgrade work They were the first commercial reactors in Yasuyuki Onaya, The Asahi Shimbun, June the nation to be restarted after the crisis. 14, 2019 The plaintiffs argued the Nuclear Kyushu Electric Power Co. will halt Regulation Authority gave the green light operations of the No. 1 reactor at its Sendai without sufficiently assessing the potential nuclear power plant in Kagoshima risk of eruptions at nearby Mount Aso in 55 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

Kumamoto Prefecture and four other security and non-proliferation, said volcanoes. In the first ruling of its kind, the Tuesday, in a stark contrast to the Fukuoka District Court concluded the incremental approach that Pyongyang has license issued was not illegal. been pushing for. ”It may be that a one- time solution set can sometimes be https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/06/17/ generated within the nonproliferation national/nra-safety-license-sendai-reactors-legal- enterprise itself. This is, after all, exactly fukuoka-court-finds-dismissing-volcano-risk- what the United States aims to achieve lawsuit/#.XQifH9Qza00 with North Korea through the agreed elimination of its illicit weapons N. South Korea programs,” Ford said in a speech at an President Moon pushes for summits event hosted by the American Academy for Strategic Education, a Washington- with Xi, Abe Posted based nonprofit organization. Lee Min-hyung, Korea Times, June 9, 2019 http://www.koreaherald.com/ President Moon Jae-in is pushing for his view.php?ud=20190614000504&ACE_SEARCH=1 summits with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Moon suggests trust-based during the upcoming G20 meeting in Osaka, denuclearization, peace Japan, later this month, a high-ranking government official said. The summits, on Yonhap, Korea Herald, June 14, 2019 the sidelines of the state leaders’ participation Triving to jump-start the slow-going Korea in the Osaka meeting from June 28 to 29, peace process, South Korean President are expected to break a current impasse in Moon Jae-in called overtly for North talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s Korea’s substantive denuclearization on nuclear program, according to the official Friday. Addressing the Parliament House who requested anonymity. in the Swedish capital, he pressed “We are arranging the schedules for Moon’s Pyongyang to continue dialogue, either possible summits with Xi and Abe during bilateral or multilateral, until it wins the the G20 meeting,” the official said Sunday. trust of the international community. President Moon is being urged to play a South Korean President Moon Jae-in more active role in addressing diplomatic delivers a speech on the Korean Peninsula issues with the neighboring countries, he peace process at the Swedish Parliament added. In a possible summit with Xi, Moon House in Stockholm on Friday. (Yonhap) would ask for the Chinese government not “Peace can be realized only through to apply any retaliatory and discriminatory peaceful means, which is dialogue. It is measures against South Korean dialogue, not nuclear arms, that will keep manufacturers in China including Samsung North Korea secure,” Moon said. He and LG Group because of the ongoing trade stressed that, “North Korea must dispute between Washington and Beijing. substantially show to the international http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/ community its commitment to completely 06/113_270315.html dismantling its nuclear weapons and to establishing a peace regime.” The remarks US state department aims for one- constituted one of Moon’s most significant calls in recent months for the communist time solution to denuclearize North neighbor to take denuclearization steps. He Korea met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un Park Han-na, Korea Herald, June 14, 2019 three times last year alone. Kim stated Pyongyang’s commitment to full The United States pursues a one-time denuclearization. solution to get North Korea to eliminate its nuclear arsenal, Christopher Ashley Ford, http://www.koreaherald.com/ assistant secretary of state for international view.php?ud=20190614000673&ACE_SEARCH=1 56 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Moon back in Korea after Northern technology, say analysts at the James Europe trip Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS) in California. Yonhap, Korea Herald, June 16, 2019 “This is the heart of North Korea’s defence Following an eight-day tour of Finland, industry,” CNS researcher Jeffrey Lewis Norway and Sweden, President Moon Jae- told Reuters. “These are the kind of visits in returned to South Korea on Sunday, we saw in 2016 and 2017 as North Korea where a pile of tough tasks remains moved toward ICBM testing.” unresolved. The keywords of his discussions during the state visits were peace, innovation Among the sites Kim visited was the and inclusive growth. Moon secured firmer February 8 General Machine Factory, support for the Korea peace process from which has been used to build ballistic the Nordic nations and paved the way for missile launchers. The machine factory stronger partnerships during the fourth was the site of the July 28, 2017, launch of industrial revolution and discovery of the a Hwasong-14 ICBM that Kim observed. next economic growth engines, according to his office, Cheong Wa Dae. “North Korea has usually tried to hide this facility by not naming it,” Lewis told He delivered two key speeches in Oslo and Reuters. “Sometimes it is unnamed; in Stockholm on his peace vision based on the other cases only the name of the plant goal of completely denuclearizing the manager was given.” Korean Peninsula. He called on North Korea to restart dialogue, either bilateral or https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea- multilateral, and abandon its nuclear missiles-factories/north-koreas-kim-visits-factories- program, emphasizing that it’s the only way linked-to-missile-launches-idINKCN1T22TC to win security assurances and move toward prosperity. North Korea’s former top nuclear envoy seen with Kim Jong Un - http://www.koreaherald.com/ KCNA view.php?ud=20190616000143&ACE_SEARCH=1 Joyce Lee, Reuters, June 3, 2019 O. North Korea North Korea’s former top nuclear envoy, North Korea’s Kim visits factories Kim Yong Chol, accompanied leader Kim linked to missile launches Jong Un to an art performance, state news agency KCNA said on Monday, signalling Josh Smith, Reuters, June 2, 2019 that the former spymaster is alive and remains a force in the power structure. The factories have innocuous names, but analysts say several ostensibly civilian Sunday’s appearance followed conflicting facilities visited by North Korean leader Kim reports of shakeups in the team that led Jong Un recently are also used to build engagement with the United States last ballistic missile launchers and other year, only for nuclear talks to collapse after weapons. Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump failed to strike a pact at a February summit. n Saturday North Korean state news agency KCNA released reports of Kim providing KCNA named Kim Yong Chol as the 10th “field guidance” at a number of factories and person among a group of 12 “leading cities, without saying when the visits officials” who accompanied Kim Jong Un happened. and his wife, Ri Sol Ju, to an amateur art performance by wives of officers in the The reports only mentioned economic North Korean Army on Sunday. elements, but the sites help form the core of North Korea’s arms industry, and have On Friday, South Korean newspaper played a major role in developing its Chosun Ilbo had said Kim Yong Chol, the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) leader’s righthand man and a counterpart 57 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo US urged to change its approach before the failed summit, had been sent to a towards DPRK labour and re-education camp, citing an unidentified North Korean source. The Pyongyang Times, June 5, 2019

https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa/ “If the United States abandons its duty north-koreas-former-top-nuclear-envoy-seen-with- and keeps resorting to anti-DPRK hostile kim-jong-un-kcna-idINKCN1T40DV policy, the June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement will face an uncertain fate,” Exclusive: U.N. bid to curb North said a spokesman for the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on June Korean missile tests, revive air 4. The statement was published to coincide traffic, delayed amid U.S. concerns - with the first anniversary of the first sources DPRK-US summit meeting and talks in Singapore held in June last year. In the Allison Lampert, Hyonhee Shin, Michelle past one year the DPRK directed constant Nichols, Reuters, June 3, 2019 efforts to establishing new relations with A U.N. agency’s bid to curb North Korea’s the US, building a lasting and durable missile programme with an airspace safety peace regime in the Korean peninsula and audit and at the same time revive its air achieving the denuclearization of the traffic has been delayed amid U.S. concerns Korean peninsula, as stipulated in the June that it may breach U.N. sanctions, sources 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement, and made familiar with the matter told Reuters. every possible endeavour such as the proactive practical measures that required Airlines currently take indirect routes to a strategic decision, it said. avoid North Korea due to the threat of surprise missile tests, which have been The June 12 DPRK-US Joint Statement is witnessed by some passengers on a commitment the two countries made commercial flights. before the world and humankind and a task for which both sides are jointly The U.N. International Civil Aviation accountable, it said, adding the DPRK Organization (ICAO) met North Korean remains unchanged in its stand and will officials last year to discuss Pyongyang’s to value and continue to faithfully hopes for a new route that would pass implement the joint statement. Whether through South Korean airspace following a the DPRK-US Joint Statement will remain dramatic detente between the two sides. effective or be reduced to a sheet of paper will depend on how the US would respond ICAO had planned to conduct its first to the DPRK’s fair and aboveboard stand, aviation safety audit in North Korea in more it said. “The US would be well-advised to than a decade this year, but it has been change its current way of calculation and delayed until 2020 amid U.S. concerns that respond to our call as soon as possible.” it could include sharing technology that could also be used to advance North Korea’s http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/ weapons programmes, the sources said. All ?bbs=30248 of the sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue. P. Central, South and South East Asia “They’re concerned because it involves Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the technology that could possibly be diverted nuclear suppliers group in 2019- for military purposes, unlike humanitarian aid that would be exempted from sanctions 2020 more easily,” one of the sources told Reuters. Tariq Rauf, The Astana Times, June 12, 2019 https://in.reuters.com/article/airlines-iata- In June 2019, Kazakhstan takes over the northkorea/exclusive-u-n-bid-to-curb-north- Chairmanship of the 48-member Nuclear korean-missile-tests-revive-air-traffic-delayed- Suppliers Group (NSG) from the current amid-u-s-concerns-sources-idINKCN1T40YG chair Latvia. In June 2019, Kazakhstan 58 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

takes over the Chairmanship of the 48- Slovenské elektrárne signs member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Russian fuel supply deal from the current chair Latvia. World Nuclear News, June 5, 2019 The 48 “Participating Governments” (PGs) in the NSG are: Argentina, Australia, TVEL and Slovak utility Slovenské Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, elektrárne have signed contract Canada, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech documents on the supply of nuclear fuel to nuclear power plants in Slovakia for Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, 2022-2026 with the possibility of extension France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, to 2030. TVEL, the nuclear fuel Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Republic manufacturer subsidiary of Russia’s of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Rosatom, said today that the agreements, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, which followed a public tender for the Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, work, had been signed in Moscow in the Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, presence of the Russian and Slovak Prime Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Peter Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Pellegrini. Kingdom, and United States. Russian nuclear fuel will be supplied to the https://astanatimes.com/2019/06/kazakhstans-chair- four operational power units with VVER- manship-of-the-nuclear-suppliers-group-2019-2020/ 440 reactors at Bohunice NPP and Mochovce NPP, as well as two new VVER- Q. World/Mics 440 Mochovce units, which are at the final We Can Tell You All of the Ways to construction stage. TVEL President Kill a Hypersonic Missile Natalia Nikipelova said that, together with Slovak specialists, the company will Samran Ali, The National Interest blog, June optimise the fuel cycle strategy of the 2, 2019 Slovak NPPs in order to improve their economic efficiency. At a time when existing missile defenses can’t guarantee success against the ballistic https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ missiles, a whole new challenge has been Slovenske-elektrarne-signs-Russian-fuel-supply-dea posed by hypersonic vehicles. Many people believe that after a certain time period the 5 Submarines That Could Kill effectiveness of ballistic missile defenses will Billions of People in Minutes grow. In that situation, hypersonic weapons’ deployment is important. However, as of National Interest Blog, June 8, 2019 now, the Hypersonic Glide Vehicles (HGVs) Built at the same time as the mighty and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles (HCMs) are Typhoon-class, the Delta IV is the current solutions looking for a problem. backbone of the Russian ballistic missile What’s New in Hypersonic Weapons submarine fleet. The older 18,200-ton Delta IV design is nonetheless a capable Speed, maneuverability, and low-altitude platform and its armed with 16 R-29RMU travel are major traits of hypersonic Sineva liquid-fuel ballistic missiles, each of weapons which are not comparable to the which can carry between four and eight existing ballistic or cruise missiles. Cruise warheads. Unlike previous versions of the missiles lack speed while the ballistic missiles Project 667 design, the Delta IV is able to can’t maneuver. Hypersonic weapons travel fire missiles in any direction from a normally at speeds greater than Mach 5 at constant course in a circular sector. It is lower altitudes with maneuverability also able to fire its ballistic missiles from a making them harder to detect and kill than depth of 55 meters while cruising at a speed the legacy ballistic and cruise missiles. of six to seven knots.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/we-can-tell- While they have thankfully never been you-all-ways-kill-hypersonic-missile-60472 used during a shooting war, nuclear- 59 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

powered submarines carrying nuclear- agreement and increasing tensions have tipped missiles are the most deadly weapons seen Iran’s Supreme National Security mankind has ever devised. In some cases— Council issue an order on 8 May to stop as in the case of the Ohio-class submarine some of Iran’s measures. during the height of the Cold War—even a single vessel could reduce as many as 288 https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ IAEA-focus-on-verification-and-development city-sized targets into radioactive ash in less than 30 minutes. Indeed, these vessels and R. Op-Ed their payloads could end human civilization in less time than it takes to order a pizza if a INDIA third world war were to break out. A blueprint for national security https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/5-subma- for Modi 2.0 govt rines-could-kill-billions-people-minutes-61577 G.D.Bakshi, Livemint, June 4, 2019 Research funding awarded for fast The 2019 election was unique. It was reactor support fought on the plank of national security and India’s response to Pakistan’s World Nuclear News, June 11, 2019 unabated proxy war over the past 30 Six university projects will develop years. This, surprisingly, made caste instrumentation and tools for the USA’s arithmetic irrelevant. The tipping point forthcoming Versatile Test Reactor (VTR) had come with the brutal killing of 40 using USD1.7 million in funding just allocated Central Reserve Police Force troopers at by Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Pulwama. For the first time, India called Pakistan’s nuclear bluff and reacted across The projects are at Virginia Commonwealth the border with a massive air strike at the University, University of Michigan, Balakot terror camp. This was the first time Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in the last 50 years that Indian war planes Oregon State University, and Purdue had crossed into Pakistan. The response University has two. The awards are between of the people was one of euphoric catharsis USD150,000 and USD375,000 each. and got the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) a landslide victory in the elections. https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Research- funding-awarded-for-fast-reactor-support The opposition completely misjudged the popular mood. They could have aligned IAEA focus on verification and themselves with the popular angst by development demanding a far more energetic response after the Pakistani retaliation on 27 World Nuclear News, June 12, 2019 February. Instead, they chose to downplay “I am worried about increasing tensions over the national security agenda altogether and the Iranian nuclear issue,” said Yukiya strike a pacific stance that would devalue Amano, the Director General of the and even question the Indian strikes. International Atomic Energy Agency https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/ (IAEA). In a statement to the agency’s board opinion-a-blueprint-for-national-security-for- of governors on 10 June he called on Iran to modi-2-0-govt-1559671297685.html fully implement its commitments.

Since January 2016, the IAEA has been The New India Versus The verifying and monitoring Iran’s Nuclear Revolution: The Future Of implementation of its nuclear-related Crises Among Nuclear Powers commitments under the Joint Comprehensive T. Negeen Pegahi, War on the Rocks, June Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in 2015 12, 2019 between Iran and the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the USA). The What is going on with relations among USA has since withdrawn from the nuclear-armed states these days? Last 60 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

February, the United States was threatening 15,948 square kilometres of the Kashmir a “bloody nose” attack against North Korea. Valley is handed over to Pakistan since it This February, India actually conducted has a Muslim majority. And as if on auto- airstrikes against Pakistan. Next February, mode, the two globally designated well, that’s anyone’s guess but odds are it terrorists Lashkar-e-Tayebba (LeT) Chief won’t be anything good. Does no one read Hafiz Saeed and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) The Meaning of the Nuclear Revolution Chief Masood Azhar – among many more anymore?? – can then go back to their traditional occupations along with their jihadist Robert Jervis’ seminal book and other cadre. classics of nuclear strategy argue that survivable nuclear weapons fundamentally https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/ change the nature of statecraft, with a imran-s-pakistan-needs-to-move-beyond- number of implications for the behavior and kashmir-and-terror-to-engage-modi-s-india/ outcomes we should expect between nuclear story-blVZXaTdk7cGN9mDd6975K.html powers. Jervis writes: If nuclear weapons have had the influence that the nuclear- PAKISTAN revolution theory indicates they should have, then there will be peace between the The evolving relationship between superpowers [the pair of nuclear-armed Pakistan and Iran adversaries on which he was focused], crises Muhammad Asif Noor, Daily Times, June will be rare, neither side will be eager to press 2, 2019 bargaining advantages to the limit, the status quo will be relatively easy to maintain, and As the countries of the Muslim world are political outcomes will not be closely related about to have largest gathering of their to either the nuclear or the conventional unique forum of Organization of Islamic balance. Conference in Riyadh this week, Pakistan and Iran have developed a thaw in https://warontherocks.com/2019/06/the-new- relations to build the synergies for india-versus-the-nuclear-revolution-the-future-of- evolution of their deep-rooted relations. In crises-among-nuclear-powers/ the wake of ongoing stress and strains between Tehran and Washington, Javad Imran needs a change in strategy Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran was on his and new pair of spectacles to read recent urgent spree to different capitals of Modi’s India the regional countries including China, Japan, India and Turkmenistan before his Shishir Gupta, Hindustan Times, June 14, presence in Islamabad to meet at the 2019 higher levels of civilian and military For Pakistan rulers, Kashmir is the preferred commands. Amid the tension in the region antidote to domestic troubles since and keeping in view Pakistan’s formidable independence. When Prime Minister Imran role in the geopolitics of the Persian Gulf Khan says that he wants to resolve the main where the South Asian nuclear armed sticking point in bilateral relations, namely Islamic country is finding a tough balance Kashmir, with Prime Minister Narendra between Riyadh and Tehran. Presence of Modi before walking into the SCO Summit Iranian Foreign Minister before these at Bishkek, it sounds like a stuck record important meetings of the regional playing a bad rendition of Yesterday Once stakeholders in a tense situation, is meant More. to convince Pakistan to play a constructive role in pushing or influencing Riyadh to In an interview to Russian state-run media soften its regional stance towards Iran. agency Sputnik, PM Khan says that Kashmir Lest not forget Pakistan’s relations Saudi can be resolved if the two governments Arabia and their both being strong allies decide to tackle it together. Euphemistically, of USA. The visit was also important to from Pakistan’s perspective, all it requires is keep the backdoor diplomatic channels to some minor cartographic changes so that be utilized to remove the tension and seek 61 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

assistance from allies. applied for NSG membership. Pakistan wants to access nuclear technology https://dailytimes.com.pk/405190/the-evolving- through the membership of the NSG to relationship-between-pakistan-and-iran/ meet the rising demand of electricity through nuclear energy. Pakistan has the Pakistan & Sino-US cold war credentials that entitle it to becoming a Munir Akram, Dawn, June 9, 2019 member of all multi-lateral strategic export control regimes, including the NSG. After the secretive Bilderberg meetings in Moreover, Pakistan has the expertise, Switzerland last week, Martin Wolf, the manpower and infrastructure, as well as respected Financial Times economic the ability to supply NSG controlled items, columnist, wrote an op-ed entitled: ‘The 100 goods and services for a range of nuclear year fight facing the US and China’. Wolf’s applications for peaceful uses. conclusions are significant: Pakistan has all the credentials that make “...[R]ivalry with China is becoming an it eligible to be an NSG member state. organising principle of US economic, foreign Pakistan is party to several international and security policies”; “The aim is US nonproliferation and disarmament related domination. This means control over China, arrangements. It has a robust and or separation from China”. This effort is comprehensive export control regime and bound to fail. “This is the most important has an independent and autonomous geopolitical development of our era. ...[I]t regulatory body. Pakistan cooperates will increasingly force everybody else to take internationally with the International sides or fight hard for neutrality”; “ Anybody Atomic Energy Agency, the CERN and the who believes that a rules-based multilateral SESAME to explore the peaceful order, our globalised economy, or even application of nuclear technology. harmonious international relations, are Pakistan is one of the few states in the likely to survive this conflict is deluded”. world to operate a complete nuclear fuel cycle. It is benefiting from several Pakistan is near if not in the eye of the applications of nuclear technology, which brewing Sino-US storm. Neutrality is not an include agriculture, medicine, option for Pakistan. The US has already environment protection, power chosen India as its strategic partner to production. Pakistan is in a position to counter China across the ‘Indo-Pacific’ and provide nuclear fuel cycle services under South Asia. The announced US South Asia the IAEA safeguards. policy is based on Indian domination of the subcontinent. Notwithstanding India’s trade https://dailytimes.com.pk/410140/eyes-on-the- squabbles with Donald Trump, the US prize/ establishment is committed to building up India militarily to counter China. USA https://www.dawn.com/news/1487040 Could Trump Trash The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty? Eyes on the prize Michael Krepon, Forbes, June 3, 2019 Misbah Arif, Daily Times, June 11, 2019 Think of what the world would be like if The Nuclear Suppliers Group is a Russia, the United States, China, India and multilateral export control regime and a Pakistan were testing nuclear weapons. group of nuclear supplier countries that seek They are not because of the to prevent nuclear proliferation by Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty controlling the export of materials, (CTBT) which is responsible for shutting equipment and technology that can be used down nuclear testing by major and to manufacture nuclear weapons. It was regional powers for more than two founded in response to the Indian nuclear decades. Walking away from the test in 1974. In May 2016, Pakistan formally CTBT would be extraordinarily dumb and 62 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

dangerous, but the Trump administration both Iranian and American hard-liners has taken a step in this direction. are seizing on the moment for political advantage. The CTBT was negotiated in 1996, but it isn’t solidly in place. While Russia has signed and The attacks this week on two tankers in ratified it, Senate Republicans rejected it in the gulf, instantly attributed to Iran by 1999. China, like the United States, has Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and signed but not ratified. There are other then President Trump, emboldens the holdouts, including India and Pakistan. And hard-liners in both countries, each able to yet none of these states has tested nuclear argue their longtime adversary is itching weapons since 1998. When a treaty is for war. negotiated, it’s common diplomatic practice not to undercut its objectives while awaiting https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/15/world/ its entry into force. Hence the two-decades- middleeast/trump-iran-hard- long moratorium on testing by every nuclear- liners.html?login=smartlock&auth=login- smartlock armed state except North Korea.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelkrepon/2019/ RUSSIA 06/03/could-trump-trash-the-nuclear-test-ban- treaty/#623514572514 Russia vs. Israel: The War That Could Become a Nuclear Disaster Will Arms Control Foes Take Aim at Michael Peck, National Interest Blog, June Another Treaty? 10, 2019 Carol Giacomo, The New York Times, June 4, There are deconfliction mechanisms in 2019 place, including a hotline between the With the United States, Russia and China Israeli and Russian militaries. “We are very pouring billions of dollars into modernizing strict about informing the Russians about their military arsenals, the risk of a new arms our activities and that their operational race grows while the arms control system picture is up to date,” said the IDF official. that has held off the threat of nuclear Yet those procedures were not sufficient annihilation grows weaker. to avoid a downing of a Russian plane.

Russia has violated the Intermediate-Range Israel remains determined to continue Nuclear Forces Treaty, which eliminated pounding Iranian forces in Syria in a bid American and Russian missiles in Europe, to keep Tehran’s forces away from Israel’s since at least 2014, when the Obama northern border. At the same time, Russia administration accused it of deploying a has thousands of troops in Syria that could cruise missile of illegal range. Because of be caught in the crossfire—or even become that, President Trump said early this year belligerents if Moscow tires of its Syrian that he would abandon the pact. ally being pummeled.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/04/opinion/ https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-vs- nuclear-test-ban.html israel-war-could-become-nuclear-disaster-61892

In Face-Off With Iran, Escalation WEST ASIA May Depend on Who Prevails Iran’s isolation on the Inside Washington and Tehran international stage is growing David E. Sanger and David D. Kirkpatrick, Osama Al-sharif, Arab News, June 04, New York Times, June 15, 2019 2019 As Iran and the United States face off in the The Al Marzoqah was one of four tankers Gulf of Oman, the risk may not be just at attacked near the Port of Fujairah. sea, but in Tehran and Washington, where (Reuters) 63 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

There were a number of important messages Since withdrawing from the 2015 coming out of Makkah last week after Saudi agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program, Arabia successfully hosted three important President Donald Trump has ramped up summits: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), sanctions and vowed to curb Tehran’s Arab League, and Organization of Islamic destabilizing activities in the region. Cooperation. The first message was the Speaking in London, Qatari Foreign almost unanimous condemnation of Iran’s Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin continuous meddling in regional affairs and Abdulrahman Al-Thani said Qatar its growing threat to the stability of the region respected US policy on Iran, but added: as a whole. Only Iraq objected to the Arab “We have our own assessment.” League’s final communique, while Qatar expressed reservations over the Arab League http://www.arabnews.com/node/1508516/ and GCC statements two days after the middle-east meetings had concluded. Germany must respond to its http://www.arabnews.com/node/1506386 approach Iran rejects French call for wider Hanif Ghaffari, Tehran Times, June 11, 2019 talks beyond nuclear deal Germany cannot play the role of an Arab News, June 7, 2019 independent actor in the world of diplomacy! Unfortunately, Germany, Iran rejected French calls for wider along with Britain and France, held talks international talks over its nuclear and with the Tramp government in 2017 on a military ambitions, saying on Friday it would nuclear ambitions deal with Iran. Berlin only discuss it existing 2015 atomic pact has agreed to change the nuclear deal with with world powers, state TV reported. Iran! The point is that German Chancellor French President Emmanuel Macron had Angela Merkel, like Donald Trump, is an said a day earlier that Paris and Washington unreliable politician. German Foreign both wanted to stop Tehran getting nuclear Minister Heiko Maasis now trying to play arms and new talks should focus on curbing a mediating role for Iran and the United its ballistic missiles program and on other States! This is while Berlin must only issues. But Iran’s foreign ministry said it respond to the non-compliant behavior of would not hold any discussions beyond the itself and of Europe in relation to a nuclear 2015 pact which US President Donald deal with Iran. Trump abandoned last year as he pressed for tougher restrictions. Over the last year, the European troika has not only done anything to revive the http://www.arabnews.com/node/1507481/middle-east nuclear deal or bring any kind of benefit to the Iranian nation, but they have Qatar admits having different actually backed up U.S. by developing new ‘assessment’ to US on Iran threat plans to undermine Iran’s “missile work”, and diminish its “power in the region” as Arab News, June 10, 2019 well as its “nuclear technology”. Qatar has its “own assessment” different to https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436823/ the US on policy towards Iran, the country’s Germany-must-respond-to-its-approach foreign minister said Sunday. The comments are expected to alarm members of the Trump administration, which has beefed up Post-JCPOA talks and the Deal of America’s military presence in the region Century: Two sides of the same after an increased Iranian threat. Qatar coin hosts the biggest US military base in the Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, Tehran Middle East but has become increasingly TimesJune 11, 2019 close to Iran despite Washington viewing Tehran as the world’s largest state sponsor Amid all these pressures from U.S., Europe of terror could not, or did not want to, find a way 64 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

to deal with U.S. who had chosen to violate its Arab neighbors. The longer European its nuclear deal with Iran and Iran was left capitals try to fudge this issue, the greater alone with a useless deal. Following Iran’s the danger not simply to the region but to strategies that were based on waiting and international peace. not taking any immediate action, on the anniversary of America’s withdrawal from http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/568683/ the deal, U.S. revealed the second part of its Opinion/Editorial/Nuclear-Iran-Europe-should- scenario: offering Iran to negotiate for get-behind-Trump signing a new agreement and suggesting the Deal of the Century that would guarantee Is It Too Late To Stop Iran’s the safety of the Zionist regime. Permanent Presence In Syria?

We still remember that Condoleezza Rice, Eric R Mandel, The Jerusalem Post, June U.S. Secretary of State during the 11, 2019 administration of George W. Bush, called for The national security advisers of Russia, redrawing the Middle East map by “the the United States, and Israel are scheduled Greater Middle East Project”. The idea of to meet in Jerusalem later this month for removing borders in Middle East was put what former US ambassador to Israel forward again during Obama’s presidency; Daniel Shapiro called a potential “game this time by offering a Islamic State for Iraq changer on pushing Iran’s military out of and Sham (ISIS). This project, eventually, led Syria.” Russia has, with Iranian to the creation of ISIS, in a bid to protect the assistance, gained everything it set out to Zionist Regime. It seems that both democrat accomplish in Syria. It expanded its naval and republican governments have been and air bases and elevated its international adopting the same foreign policy and it status, while diminishing and proves that the main policy of these both marginalizing America. American parties are the same. However, Russia, Israel and the United https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/436822/Post- States may now share some common JCPOA-talks-and-the-Deal-of-Century-Two- interest in keeping the Iranian regime from sides-of-the-same getting what it wants – a permanent presence in Syria. Moving forward, Iran Nuclear Iran: Europe should get may be more a headache than an asset for behind Trump Russian interests. This month Russia Saudi Gazette, June 12, 2019 expelled Iranian allied militia from the Russian naval base in Tartus on the Now that the IAEA has finally flagged up Mediterranean coast of Syria. an increase in the Iranian nuclear program it is time for the other signatories to the https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Is-it-too-late- Geneva Accord to review their position. to-stop-Irans-permanent-presence-in-Syria- China and Russia of course are entirely 592188 content with the Iran’s destabilizing behavior and are not about to pressure Stop Iran! Tehran to sticking to its commitments. But Jerusalem Post, June 11, 2019 it is an entirely different matter for the Europeans. Brussels has been seeking to Yukiya Amano, director-general of the frustrate Trump’s re-imposition of economic International Atomic Energy Agency, said sanctions on Iran and has deplored his on Monday that Iran is increasing its tearing up of Obama’s useless deal. The production of enriched uranium as part European attitude was clearly driven by of its quest to build nuclear weapons. commercial rather than geopolitical considerations. It is now time for Europe to Amano’s statement is important because get behind Washington and give up its it marks the first time since the signing of opposition to Trump’s hard line. Tehran is the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that the UN’s intent on bringing yet more bloody chaos to nuclear watchdog has indicated that Iran 65 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

is violating its nuclear-related commitments. Syrian WMD Proliferation Could Set the Middle East on Fire Talking to reporters in the IAEA’s Vienna headquarters, Amano said that the Iran deal Peter Brookes, The National Interest Blog, – known officially as the JCPOA – was June 8, 2019 “under tension,” adding that Tehran’s It’s hard to conceive that the situation in “production rate [of uranium] is increasing” Syria could get any worse—but it might. – although he could not say by how much. Besides the tremendous bloodshed during https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Stop-Iran- the eight-year-old civil war—that included 592186 the rise and fall of the Islamic State—the world witnessed the Syrian regime’s Hezbollah’s Most Devastating almost unbridled use of chemical weapons Threat to Israel? Not Its Missiles to savagely work to break its opponents’ will. David Daoud, Haaretz, June 12, 2019 Besides the tremendous bloodshed during Israel’s ground troops are physically and the eight-year-old civil war—that included operationally capable of the rise and fall of the Islamic State—the defeating Hezbollah, but the Iranian-backed world witnessed the Syrian regime’s militia has waged a psychological war of almost unbridled use of chemical weapons such effectiveness that the IDF soldiers feel to savagely work to break its opponents’ deterred from believing in their capacities will. against them. Indeed, fear is Hezbollah’s most potent weapon. For 37 years, the group https://nationalinterest.org/feature/syrian-wmd- has used fear to deter Israel from ever fully proliferation-could-set-middle-east-fire-61377 attempting to uproot the group. Introducing Nuclear Weapons to https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium- hezbollah-s-propaganda-war-threatens-israel-far- the Middle East more-than-its-missiles-1.7345897 Walter L. Hixson, Washington Report, June 2019 Washington Watch: Is Trump If The National Interest Mandates that the Helping The Saudis Go Nuclear? United States go to war to stop the spread Douglas Bloomfield, The Jerusalem Post, June of nuclear weapons in the Middle East 13, 2019 then we should have begun bombing Israel in the 1960s. US President Donald Trump recently took another step toward bringing Saudi Arabia Frequently lost in the discussion over the into the nuclear club. While Israeli-Saudi ties Iran nuclear program is the irony that it have warmed in recent years, helping the was of course Israel that first introduced desert kingdom go nuclear – with its nuclear weapons to the region and did so ongoing support for the most extreme after repeatedly and blatantly deceiving its Islamic radicals in the world – can hardly “special ally,” the United States, in the be good for the Jewish state. process. As discussed below, today’s hostility toward Iran may not primarily be Secret negotiations with the US Energy about nuclear weapons, but the Trump Department over many months have led administration will maximize the “Iran Washington to “transfer highly sensitive US nuclear threat” as a propaganda theme in nuclear technology, a potential violation of the buildup toward a possible U.S.-Israel federal law,” to Saudi Arabia, according to war targeting Iran and Hezbollah. House Oversight Committee sources cited by The Washington Post. Israel of course maintains a stony silence about its own nuclear arsenal. On this, as https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Washington-Watch- with almost any other matter, the United Is-Trump-helping-the-Saudis-go-nuclear-592310 States complies with Israel’s wishes. 66 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

History shows the reverse clearly has not continuing efforts to expand cooperation been the case. on multiple fronts. Between the three visited states, Kazakhstan stands out, as https://www.wrmea.org/2019-june-july/introduc- on June 9 it will hold its presidential ing-nuclear-weapons-to-the-middle-east.html election, an important event in several ways. Here I will lay out a few details and EAST ASIA the stakes for North East Asia.

Abe needs to convince Trump to Why is it important for South Korea? ease tensions with Iran Kazakhstan has been actively participating in global affairs, including, The Asahi Shimbun, June 14, 2019 most recently, the resolution of the Syrian Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s trip to Iran to conflict. It has the potential for North help ease the confrontation between Korean engagement and can be an Washington and Tehran has been an example of normalization. From an unusual diplomatic attempt at peace economic perspective, vigorously mediation by the leader of Japan, a pacifist improving Kazakhstan’s investment nation in the Far East. Abe should continue climate, making the country an important acting as a fair and effective peace mediator investment destination in Asia in the face to set a precedent for Japan’s broad of rising U.S.-China trade tensions, puts international contribution in the future. Abe the country in a new light for South visited Tehran, whose relationship with Korea’s businesses to overarch China and Washington is fraught with rising tensions, build a springboard for cooperation with and met with President Hassan Rouhani Central Asia and even further into and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It was Europe. South Korea must seize the the first visit to Iran by a sitting Japanese opportunity to develop closer ties with prime minister in 41 years. Kazakhstan and the region and utilize the diplomatic and economic potential for the Khamenei, the most powerful personality in improvement of North Eastern regional Iran, seldom holds talks with a Western security and the economic climate. I have leader. Abe’s meeting with him is significant every reason to see it in the light of if only as a rare direct communication with cooperation for peace and prosperity. the powerful ayatollah. As a country with friendly relations with both the United States http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/opinion/ and Iran, Japan has a reasonable role to play 2019/06/137_270076.html in efforts to ease the tensions between the two nations. NORTH KOREA http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ Third NK-US summit is possible AJ201906140031.html despite lack of progress on denuclearization: analysts SOUTH KOREA Yonhap, Korea Herald, June 9, 2019 From nukes toward democracy North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US Eugene Lee, Korea Times, June 7, 2019 President Donald Trump could meet for a third summit later this year even without Central Asia today is undergoing a dramatic much progress toward dismantling the change. President Moon’s recent visit to the regime’s nuclear weapons program, region is yet another confirmation of its analysts here said. At their earlier summits, importance to South Korea. The support for the first of which took place a year ago on Moon’s “New Northern Policy” from June 12 in Singapore, Kim and Trump Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan sought to strike a deal that would lead to along with the pledge to further their the dismantlement of North Korea’s partnerships is becoming a priority, while weapons of mass destruction programs in 67 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

exchange for the lifting of crippling researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy sanctions on the regime. Studies, said. “North Korea is showing no signs of shifting its position now, and Experts asked by Yonhap News Agency under the circumstance, Moon’s peace were divided on how far the two sides have efforts will unlikely generate the desired come since the Singapore summit, with outcome.” some saying the tensions of 2017 have eased and others arguing the prospects for North http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/ Korea’s denuclearization have only 06/113_270367.html worsened. But most agreed that the two charismatic leaders will seek a third summit S. Think Tanks within the year. “A third Trump-Kim summit is a near certainty for 2019 — you Nuclear Newcomers: Getting can take that prediction to the bank,” said Organized for Success Harry Kazianis, senior director of Korean Elisabeth Dyck, International Atomic studies at the Center for the National Energy Agency, June 4, 2019 Interest. “Both sides came too close to a deal in Hanoi to give up now.” Coordination among stakeholders is key for any complex undertaking. Introducing http://www.koreaherald.com/ nuclear power is no different. The IAEA view.php?ud=20190609000018&ACE_SEARCH=1 has recently issued a publication that can help nuclear newcomer countries set up ‘North Korea unlikely to change and maintain an effective coordination position on denuclearization’ mechanism, referred to as a nuclear energy programme implementing Lee Min-hyung, Korea Times, June 10, 2019 organization (NEPIO). A NEPIO is an The Osaka meeting will be attended by key important element of the IAEA Milestones regional leaders including Chinese President Approach, an internationally accepted, Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald comprehensive framework for nuclear Trump, all of whom have sizable stakes in power programme development. the denuclearization process. At the summit, President Moon Jae-in is widely expected to Responsibilities and Functions of a Nuclear pitch his ambitious idea of partial sanctions Energy Programme Implementing easing on North Korea and encourage the Organization, published in the IAEA United States, Japan, China and Russia to Nuclear Energy Series (No. NG-T-3.6 (Rev. stand behind this for an early resumption 1)), describes a set of practical and detailed of the denuclearization talks. Trump, North responsibilities, functions and activities Korean leader Kim Jong-un and President that national authorities can use as Moon all deserve credit for helping create a guidance. This publication, which moment of “real diplomatic promise,” but represents a significant revision of a political observers in Seoul note that the document first issued in 2009, takes into moment of promise has curdled “quite account nearly 10 years of experience and unexpectedly” into possibly a tragic missed good practices of countries that are chance. introducing or have recently introduced nuclear power, as well as lessons learned They believe that the summit is unlikely to during Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure serve as a venue to significantly change the Review (INIR) missions and IAEA ongoing deadlock in talks on technical assistance activities to newcomer denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, countries. nor open a path to mutual trust between Washington and Pyongyang. “North Korea https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/nuclear- newcomers-getting-organized-for-success remains very firm in its determination not to change its position,” Shin Beom-chul, a 68 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Important for Iran to Implement its The Code of Conduct describes how JCPOA Commitments, IAEA countries can ensure the safety and Director General Says security of radioactive sources, from the stage of initial production to their final Aabha Dixit, International Atomic Energy disposal. To date, 137 countries have Agency, June 10, 2019 made a political commitment to implement the Code of Conduct, which is It is essential that Iran fully implements its not legally binding. The Code of Conduct nuclear-related commitments under the is supplemented by Guidance documents Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Import and Export of Radioactive (JCPOA), IAEA Director General Yukiya Sources and on the Management of Amano told the Agency’s Board of Disused Radioactive Sources. Governors today. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/wider- Mr Amano noted the announcement by implementation-of-iaea-code-of-conduct-to- Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on enhance-safety-and-security-review-meeting- 8 May that it had “issued an order to stop concludes some of Iran’s measures” under the JCPOA.

“I am worried about increasing tensions over Decision to keep nuclear weapons the Iranian nuclear issue,” he said. “As I data classified hurts US national have constantly emphasised, the nuclear- security related commitments entered into by Iran under the JCPOA represent a significant Heather Wuest, Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, June 11, 2019 gain for nuclear verification. I therefore hope that ways can be found to reduce current The Trump administration’s decision to tensions through dialogue. It is essential that classify the total number of nuclear Iran fully implements its nuclear-related weapons that the United States possesses commitments under the JCPOA.” and the number of nuclear warheads dismantled in 2018 marks an abrupt https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/important- change from the recent norm. Every year for-iran-to-implement-its-jcpoa-commitments- since 2010, the United States has chosen iaea-director-general-says to declassify its nuclear stockpile and disarmament figures as part of an effort Wider Implementation of IAEA to encourage nuclear diplomacy and Code of Conduct to Enhance Safety openness. But this year when the and Security: Review Meeting Federation of American Scientists asked Concludes the Pentagon for the figures to check its work in the Nuclear Notebook (a collection Nathalie Mikhailova, International Atomic of world nuclear stockpile and Energy Agency, June 11, 2019 disarmament information), the By intensifying the implementation of the administration chose not to declassify. IAEA Code of Conduct on the Safety and https://thebulletin.org/2019/06/hans-kristensen- Security of Radioactive Sources and its on-how-the-tump-administrations-decision-to- supplementary Guidance documents, keep-nuclear-weapons-data-classified-hurts-us- countries are strengthening radiation safety national-security/ and nuclear security not only domestically, but also internationally. This was the Senior Operators, Regulators and conclusion of a meeting, which reviewed implementation of the Code of Conduct and Managers Discuss Best Practices its Guidance documents, held in Vienna from at Beijing Meeting 27 to 31 May. Over 190 technical and legal Jing Zhang, International Atomic Energy experts from 103 countries and three non- Agency, June 12, 2019 governmental organizations attended the meeting. The global fleet of nuclear reactors is 69 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

slowly ageing—today, more than two-thirds nuclear deal indicates that Tehran of the world’s 450 operational nuclear power continues to adhere to the accord’s reactors are more than 30 years old. Many limits—a positive development after IAEA Member States are considering President Hassan extending the operation of nuclear power Rouhani announced that Iran would plants (NPPs) beyond their licensed reduce compliance with the agreement. operating lifespans, mainly for energy security, economic and environmental Specifically, the Supreme National reasons. To support their consideration of Security Council stated May 8 that Iran new plant life management strategies, and would no longer be bound by the stockpile to ensure that the long-term operation (LTO) limits on heavy water and low-enriched of nuclear power plants remains safe and uranium (LEU) put in place by the nuclear sustainable, the IAEA organized an deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive interregional visit to nuclear power facilities Plan of Action (JCPOA). According to the in Beijing and Fuqing, China, from 22 to 26 May 31 IAEA report, Iran remains below April. those caps—for now (see below for details).

https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/strengthen- https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/2019-06-05/ ing-plant-life-management despite-threats-breach-limits-iran-remains- below-nuclear-deals-caps Trump Arms Control Plans Draw Criticism T. Statements Kingston Reif and Shervin Taheran, Arms DIA Statement on Lt. Gen. Ashley’s Control Association, June 2019 Remarks at Hudson Institute Amid growing concern about the future of Defence Intelligence Agency, USA, June 13, U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control efforts, 2019 the Trump administration is still evaluating The following Defense Intelligence a potential extension of the 2010 New Agency statement responds to questions Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New we have received about remarks DIA START) and appears to lack a clear plan to Director Lt. Gen. Robert P. Ashley, Jr., made achieve a newly announced goal of at a Hudson Institute event May 29, 2019: negotiating more comprehensive agreements with Russia and China. “The U.S. government, including the Intelligence Community, has assessed that A decision on whether to extend New Russia has conducted nuclear weapons START is one that President Donald Trump tests that have created nuclear “will make at some point next year,” said yield. Regarding China, the information Tim Morrison, senior director for weapons raised at the Hudson Institute, coupled of mass destruction and biodefense at the with China’s lack of transparency on their National Security Council, in May 29 remarks nuclear testing activities, naturally raise at the Hudson Institute in Washington. questions about those activities in relation https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-06/news/ to the “zero yield” nuclear weapons trump-arms-control-plans-draw-criticism testing moratorium adhered to by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Despite Threat to Breach Limits, France. These are actions that the U.S. government characterizes as inconsistent Iran Remains Below the Nuclear with the commitments undertaken by the Deal’s Caps United States, the United Kingdom, and Arms Control Association, June, 2019 France.” The International Atomic Energy Agency’s https://www.dia.mil/News/Speeches-and-Testimo- (IAEA) most recent report on Iran’s nies/Article-View/Article/1875351/dia-statement-on- implementation of the 2015 multilateral lt-gen-ashleys-remarks-at-hudson-institute/ 70 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

U.S. military intelligence steps up government, and it is anti-lie, and it is pro- accusation against Russia over human being. But anyone who thinks the nuclear testing point of this is that nuclear power is bad, is just, they’ve just missed it.” Paul Sonne, Washington Post, June 13, 2019 A few months before the Chernobyl The U.S. military intelligence agency stepped accident, the Challenger space shuttle had up its accusations against Russia over low- exploded and was another example of “a yield nuclear testing on Thursday, saying failure of a lot of people and institutions that the country has conducted nuclear over a long period of time”, Mazin said. weapons tests that resulted in nuclear yield. “When these things happen, we cannot The new statement from the Defense immediately ask this simple question, Intelligence Agency amounted to a more ‘Well, who is to blame?’ We should direct accusation against Russia, compared presume that there’s a lot to blame, and to hedged comments about Russian nuclear the real question is ‘What do we do so this testing that DIA Director Lt. Gen. Robert P. doesn’t happen again?’ That’s the question Ashley Jr. made in a speech in Washington worth asking.” in late May. MEDIA “The U.S. Government, including the Henry Fountain, a science writer on the Intelligence Community, has assessed that Climate desk of The New York Times, Russia has conducted nuclear weapons tests toured the Chernobyl plant and the that have created nuclear yield,” the exclusion zone around it in 2014. In DIA statement released Thursday said. The an article for the newspaper on 2 June, he agency didn’t give any details about the wrote that the first thing to understand alleged tests or release any evidence backing about the show is “a lot of it is made up”. the accusation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national- The producers of the mini-series “don’t security/us-military-intelligence-steps-up- sanitise the disaster”, Fountain wrote, but accusation-against-russia-over-nuclear-testing/ in some cases have gone too far, such as 2019/06/13/2dadf2e2-8e26-11e9-b162- with the images of injuries caused by 8f6f41ec3c04_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.af2cf7b15069 radiation exposure. Instead, they “simplify” it to meet the “demands of U. Interviews/Reports Hollywood and of production budgets”. The drama and the facts about “But if you didn’t know much about Chernobyl Chernobyl you could be forgiven if, after watching, you thought the entire response World Nuclear News, June 5, 2019 and clean-up was run by two people, Valery Legasov and Boris Shcherbina, Craig Mazin - creator of the mini-series aided valiantly by a third, Ulana Chernobyl for television network HBO about Khomyuk.” the 1986 accident in Ukraine - has warned against “reactionary garbage” about the Legasov, a member of the Academy of show, stressing that he is a supporter of Sciences of the USSR, led the commission nuclear energy. investigating the accident. Shcherbina, a In an interview with Slate published on 3 vice-chairman of the Council of June, Mazin said there had been “really Ministers, supervised crisis management dumb” expectations the mini-series would following the accident. Khomyuk is a show “three-headed babies, and spread lies, fictitious character whose actions, and tell people that nuclear power is Fountain wrote, were not realistic. horrendous, and no, it’s not”. Among the factual inventions to aid “For a million reasons, this was not an anti- dramatic effect, Fountain included the nuclear polemic. It’s anti--Soviet “blue light from the exposed reactor 71 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

shining high into the night sky” in the first Chernobyl in Ukraine (1986) episode. “Yes, nuclear reactors can produce and Fukushima in Japan (2011). a blue hue, from something called Cherenkov radiation, but no, there’s no According to the UN Scientific Committee way Unit 4 would have looked like [that],” on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, fewer he added. than 100 people are believed to have died from radiation as a result of the Chernobyl INDUSTRY accident to date. “This is a small fraction of the deaths which are caused by other World Nuclear Association notes that the major energy sources every single year,” show is a dramatisation of historical events World Nuclear Association said. and that there has been a large increase in web traffic to its Chernobyl information Research by James Hansen, an American paper since the show began. adjunct professor directing the Program on Climate Science, Awareness and The London-based organisation said: “We Solutions of the Earth Institute at hope that viewers are taking the opportunity Columbia University, found that, of the to learn more about modern nuclear safety seven million deaths every year from air practices and just how important nuclear pollution, four million are from burning energy is for addressing climate change and fossil fuels and the other three million from meeting sustainable development objectives. burning wood and dung. Just last week, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, The USA’s Nuclear Energy Institute wrote noted: ‘Without an important contribution a blog, A Viewer’s Guide to HBO’s from nuclear power, the global energy Chernobyl Miniseries, a few days before the transition will be that much harder. show was first aired. In the blog, NEI Alongside renewables, energy efficiency and explained the difference between the other innovative technologies, nuclear can events at Chernobyl and an interpretation make a significant contribution to achieving of them for a TV drama. sustainable energy goals and enhancing energy security’.” The mini-series correctly shows that there was an unprecedented steam explosion at World Nuclear Association added: “The Chernobyl that completely wrecked a Chernobyl accident was serious and has reactor, NEI said. resulted in long-term psychological and socio-economic impacts for the people “Firefighters and plant workers - affected. However, serious nuclear accidents sometimes through ignorance and are very rare and, even accounting for these, sometimes because of altruistic self- nuclear energy has caused far fewer deaths sacrifice - exposed themselves to huge than any other form of electricity generation. doses of radiation to try to limit the damage, NEI said. But other parts clearly “It is worth remembering that the accident are dramatised, it added. For example, one was more than 30 years ago and a lot has of the characters in the mini-series changed since then. It is interesting to note (Khomyuk) is there to “unravel the that all of the countries most affected by the mystery” of what happened, but “in the accident - Ukraine, Belarus, Russia - are real event there wasn’t much committed to expanding the use of nuclear mystery”. The story is about “extreme energy today.” management problems and a pattern of secrecy that wasn’t compatible with PERSPECTIVE industrial safety”, it said.

In the 70-year history of nuclear power, https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ there have been three major accidents - The-drama-and-the-facts-about-Chernobyl Three Mile Island in the USA (1979), 72 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Full Text of Pakistan Prime also friendly with the United States, and Minister Imran Khan’s Interview Pakistan is also friendly with the US. So we no longer have the Cold War situation. Sputnik, June 10, 2019 It is refreshing that we have developed our Before heading to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO contacts with Russia, and they are summit, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran developing all the time. Khan met Sputnik for an exclusive interview Sputnik: Your country has been long — his first to a Russian media outlet since importing US-made weapons, even taking office. He explained what he expects became of the largest arms buyer, from his meeting with President Putin, and but now Russian arms seem to be getting commented on relations with India, US a lot of attention in the region. Is sanctions against Iran and the situation in Islamabad planning to purchase Russian Afghanistan. weapons as well? Are you considering the purchase of the S-400 air defence Sputnik: Do you plan to have talks with the systems? Russian leadership in the near future? Do you yourself plan any visits to Russia? Imran Khan: As I’ve said, once the Cold Imran Khan: I would love to visit Russia. I War was over. Previously Pakistan was tied to the US, and, as we all know, India have — a long time ago — only been once. was tied to the Soviet Union. And no And, yes, I hope to meet the Russian leadership in this conference in Bishkek, the longer is that situation there. First, we hope that our tension with India decreases, so SCO meeting this coming week. So I hope we do not have to buy arms because we to meet President Putin. want to spend money on human Sputnik: What are your expectations development. But, yes, we are looking from this meeting? for arms from Russia, and I know our military is already in touch with the Imran Khan: I think this will just be an Russian military. informal meeting on the sides of the SCO conference. I already met him briefly Sputnik: Has there been any progress during my visit to China, where there was on the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project? conference by Chinese President Xi. So I met Are you planning to completely suspend him, but this time I hope to have an informal the project due to the US sanctions? chat with him. I already met the prime Imran Khan: minister of Russia in China on my first visit. You see, at the moment there has not been much progress, and that is Sputnik: The Russian military has because of the sanctions put on Iran by the announced recently that Russian troops United States. will hold military exercises with Pakistani Sputnik: How do you assess the forces later this year. How do you assess prospects for Pakistan’s cooperation military cooperation with Russia? Are with Russia within the Shanghai there any plans to further strengthen Cooperation Organisation? cooperation between our armed forces? Imran Khan: We have exchanges, we Imran Khan: Yes. We have developed develop more contacts, we improve our cooperation with Russia between our trade. Russia is an energy-surplus country. defence forces. There has always been Pakistan has shortages in energy, so we meeting. I think our defence personnel have hope to talk on those areas. We already already met. And so, yes, we hope to deepen are. Apart from defence, we want to also our contacts. improve our trade in other areas Most of the 50s, 60s, 70s were spent in the with Russia. Cold War region, where India was close Sputnik: Which areas do you mean? to the Soviet Union, and Pakistan was close to the United States. We were in different Imran Khan: Well, this is what we are camps. Now things have changed. India is exploring. We hope our trade delegations 73 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

will soon go to Russia. We will invite Russian Cold War region, where India was close trade delegations here, get them to the Soviet Union, and Pakistan was opportunities to invest in Pakistan. I do close to the United States. We were believe that there is a Russian steel company, in different camps. Now things have which is looking to invest in our steel mill changed. India is also friendly with the in Karachi. In fact, it was made by Russia. United States, and Pakistan is also friendly The steel mill of Pakistan was made by the with the US. So we no longer have the Russians a long time ago, I think in the 70s. Cold War situation. It is refreshing that we Before heading to Kyrgyzstan for the SCO have developed our contacts with Russia, summit, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran and they are developing all the time. Khan met Sputnik for an exclusive interview — his first to a Russian media Sputnik: Your country has been long outlet since taking office. He explained importing US-made weapons, even what he expects from his meeting with became of the largest arms buyer, President Putin, and commented on but now Russian arms seem to be getting relations with India, US sanctions against a lot of attention in the region. Is Iran and the situation in Afghanistan. Islamabad planning to purchase Russian weapons as well? Are you considering Sputnik: Do you plan to have talks with the the purchase of the S-400 air defence Russian leadership in the near future? Do systems? you yourself plan any visits to Russia? Imran Khan: As I’ve said, once the Cold Imran Khan: I would love to visit Russia. I War was over. Previously Pakistan was have — a long time ago — only been once. tied to the US, and, as we all know, India And, yes, I hope to meet the Russian was tied to the Soviet Union. And no leadership in this conference in Bishkek, the longer is that situation there. First, we hope SCO meeting this coming week. So I hope that our tension with India decreases, so to meet President Putin. we do not have to buy arms because we want to spend money on human Sputnik: What are your expectations development. But, yes, we are looking from this meeting? for arms from Russia, and I know our Imran Khan: I think this will just be an military is already in touch with the informal meeting on the sides of the SCO Russian military. conference. I already met him briefly Sputnik: Has there been any progress during my visit to China, where there was on the Iran-Pakistan pipeline project? conference by Chinese President Xi. So I met Are you planning to completely suspend him, but this time I hope to have an informal the project due to the US sanctions? chat with him. I already met the prime minister of Russia in China on my first visit. Imran Khan: You see, at the moment there has not been much progress, and that is Sputnik: The Russian military has because of the sanctions put on Iran by the announced recently that Russian troops United States. will hold military exercises with Pakistani forces later this year. How do you assess Sputnik: How do you assess the military cooperation with Russia? Are prospects for Pakistan’s cooperation there any plans to further strengthen with Russia within the Shanghai cooperation between our armed forces? Cooperation Organisation?

Imran Khan: Yes. We have developed Imran Khan: We have exchanges, we cooperation with Russia between our develop more contacts, we improve our defence forces. There has always been trade. Russia is an energy-surplus country. meeting. I think our defence personnel have Pakistan has shortages in energy, so we already met. And so, yes, we hope to deepen hope to talk on those areas. We already our contacts. are. Apart from defence, we want to also improve our trade in other areas Most of the 50s, 60s, 70s were spent in the with Russia. 74 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

Sputnik: Which areas do you mean? government, all feel that this railway is important for the future of Afghanistan. Imran Khan: Well, this is what we are So mainly it is the question of having the exploring. We hope our trade delegations funds, but this is a great project for the will soon go to Russia. We will invite Russian future of the whole area, the whole region. trade delegations here, get them opportunities to invest in Pakistan. I do Sputnik: Pakistan and Afghanistan are set believe that there is a Russian steel company, to hold high-level security talks in which is looking to invest in our steel mill Islamabad this week. What do you expect in Karachi. In fact, it was made by Russia. from these talks? What items will be on The steel mill of Pakistan was made by the the agenda? Russians a long time ago, I think in the 70 So the governments have to, the Indian Imran Khan: I can’t say what items will government has to take this initiative. be on the agenda because it will be Unfortunately, as I’ve said, they do not do between military personnel of both the so before the elections. Now, I think, it is time countries, so they will best know how they for them to take the initiative, and so we can can benefit from these talks, but I am not get back on the dialogue table. And, I repeat, in the position to know exactly what sort the only difference, if we resolve that there of talks they would be. will be peace in the subcontinent, that’s Sputnik: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Kashmir. Unfortunately, Kashmir can only will visit Pakistan later in June. What topics be resolved if the people of Kashmir are given will be on the agenda of your talks with the right of self-determination, which was him? guaranteed to them by the United Nations in 1945. And they would deprive of the Imran Khan: I’ve had a meeting with right, and this use of force by the Indian President Ghani in Saudi Arabia, just a government to subdue has backfired. The week or so ago. We had a very good more force there has been used, the more the conversation, we talked about how people of Kashmir have turned against the Pakistan help Afghanistan in resolving the Indian government, the more radicalisation issue about the civil war that is going on has come in the young people of Kashmir. And there, how we can get the Taliban to talk it is a future source of destabilisation of the to the Afghan government and how there continent. That’s why it is very important to can be peace in Afghanistan. So it is in the resolve the Kashmir issue. interest of Pakistan and Afghanistan for there to be peace in Afghanistan. Sputnik: Media have recently reported about the plans to construct a 700-km Because after Afghanistan the country railroad connecting Uzbekistan, Russia, that is most wanting there to be peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Is there any Afghanistan is Pakistan because war that specific timeline for its construction? What happens in Afghanistan affects the border do you expect from this project? line, border areas of Pakistan as well. Hence it is in the interest of both countries Imran Khan: I think this is a tremendous that after these long almost 40 years of project because connectivity between military action, civil war, foreign invasion we Pakistan going on through Afghanistan to feel that people of Afghanistan deserve peace. Uzbekistan, to Russia will open up this So Pakistan will be trying everything and is whole region. And then, remember, from trying everything to help there to be peace, there it will go from Pakistan right down to so that the Taliban start talking. Gwadar, which is the shortest route to the ocean. So it will open up the whole area. They are already talking to the Americans, The difference is that we cannot give a and we hope that the Taliban will then timeline, because it depends on the amount talk to the Afghan government so that of funds — can we generate enough funds there is peace. And this is something we for this railway. Secondly, it depends upon crave in Pakistan because it will not just peace in Afghanistan. Although I believe be that will mean that Afghanistan will that all, even the Taliban and the Afghan have stability, it will mean that it will open 75 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest

up connectivity between the two countries, ally and trading partner, and of course trade, the borderline areas, which have been Europe. Pakistan is also now with China devastated by this war on terror and then becoming an economic giant. Pakistan is before that the civil war, then the US also with the CPEC, which is Belt&Road invasion of Afghanistan, before that the Initiative, one of the main initiatives of BRI Soviets — so the whole area has been is CPEC. devastated. And so the only way is peace and then allow trade and connectivity. Pakistan has now opened up its vision of rather than being restricted to one or Sputnik: How do you assess the role of two countries, it’s just opened up. And this Moscow and the Moscow format talks on is a new world coming up, things are the Afghan settlement? How can Russia changing in the world. The world is further assist the Afghan settlement? changing. The power centres are changing, or there are different power Imran Khan: Well, Russia has already taken centres growing. And so we hope that steps. In Moscow, there were these talks held in this new world order our relationship by the Russian government between Taliban with Russia keeps improving. and various members of Afghan political parties, so there was this broad-based talks Sputnik: What will you tell our held in Moscow, which is a very positive international audience? thing. And I think Moscow has a role to play, Moscow has influence in areas of Imran Khan: Well, to the international Afghanistan. In fact, all the neighbours audience I would say what I’ve just always should help to bring about peace and believed in — that the world should move stability in Afghanistan. towards improving trade, helping the poor people of this world. The world Sputnik: What would you like to say to our should combine together to end poverty. Russian and international audience? It should reduce these tensions in the world. All the tensions that are going on in Imran Khan: Well, to the Russian audience the Middle East, in the Muslim world we I would say the one thing — that Pakistan have — what should I say — one and Russia, and before was the Soviet after another the Muslim world is suffering Union, we did not have very good from some sort of war, some sort relationship with each other. And then, of bloodshed. And I’m a pacifist, who when [there was] the Afghan jihan, when believes that military is no way of resolving the Soviets went to Afghanistan, we were issues in this world. And Pakistan has in opposing camps. But times have changed suffered a lot in these last 10-15 years now. And I am very happy that we now after joining the US war on terror. And are moving closer to Russia, we are we’ve suffered a lot. developing our relationship with them. Our country lost over 70,000 people dead, And we hope that this relationship will keep and billions of dollars are lost to the improving, and there will be more people- economy. So my government believes that to-people contact — people from Russia will we want to be a country, which will bring come over to Pakistan. It is one of the most countries together, which will play a part diverse countries in the world. We are in reconciling differences between countries. opening up Pakistan to tourism. And so we But we would never want to be part of any hope people from Russia will come to country, which joins any war coalitions. Pakistan. And, also, I hope to go and visit We want to play a part in bringing countries Russia on an official visit, I look forward to together, and peace, and trade, so that we that. I just feel that it is important now that can have more harmony in this world. So Russia and Pakistan move closer. There was I am an idealist and that is what I believe. a time when Russia used to look West for a long time, now Russia has started looking https://sputniknews.com/interviews/ towards East and South. The SCO is a due 201906131075835948-pakistan-imran-khan- organisation. And Pakistan for a long time russia-india-iran-exclusive/ used to look to the United States as the only ?utm_source=push&utm_medium=browser_notification&utm_campaign=sputnik_inter_en 76 Volume 11, Number 12 June 30, 2019

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