1 Nuclear, MissileNuclear, Missile & Space Digest & Space Digest
Volume 11, Number 14 A Fortnightly Newsletter from the Indian Pugwash Society July 31, 2019
Convener (Interim) Contents A. India Amb. Sujan R. Chinoy Upgrading obsolete Technology in Aircrafts New Atomic Power Plants Additional nuclear reactors at Kudankulam Space Technology Space Missions Electricity generation through atomic energy Nuclear Plant Expansion Programme Executive Council Rs 16,925 crore BE for Department of Atomic Energy in General Budget 2019- 20 Cdr. (Dr.) Probal K. Ghosh New Space India Ltd. incorporated as a new commercial arm of D/o Space: Air Marshal S. G. Inamdar Finance Minister Company to spearhead commercialization of various space (Retd.) products Dr. Roshan Khanijo Space Station and Manned Space Mission Amb. R. Rajagopalan Nuclear Insurance Pool Creation of Gaganyaan National Advisory Council Dr. Rajesh Rajagopalan Setting up of Neutrino Observatory Shri Dinesh Kumar Expect a friend to order oil': Iranian envoy messages India on US sanctions Yadvendra Budget 2019: Atomic energy department sees marginal dip in allocation; customs duty cut on nuclear fuel India's NSG hopes dashed by China yet again; Beijing continues its veto despite Modi-Xi bonhomie India Says First US Nuclear Reactor Proposed in 2008 Still Work 'in Progress' Team Modi Seeks Bids For 6 New Submarines. $6.6 Billion At Stake Budget 2019: Optimising the Defence budget and the need for organisational reform India, Russia hold talks to boost space cooperation India's Hypersonic Missiles Are a Major Threat to Pakistan
Indian Pugwash Society
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Tel. No (91-11) 2671-7983 Extn 7014 & 7012 Fax No. (91-11)2615-4192 Email: [email protected] 2 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Chandrayaan 2 Mission Launch Highlights: Launch Called Off Due To Technical Snag, Revised Dates At Least 10 Days Away, Says Isro India's second lunar mission delayed due to 'technical snag': ISRO B. China China to launch constellation of remote sensing satellites by 2021 Chinese Navy conducts 5 days of military exercises in S. China Sea Nuke research school to break ground soon China urges restraint to avoid escalation of Gulf tensions China's new ship-borne chopper to raise PLA's ability to new level: military specialists Pentagon says China missile test in South China Sea 'disturbing' China to launch constellation with 72 satellites for Internet of Things Chinese, Japanese scientists discover highest energy photon U.S., Germany slam China at U.N. Security Council over Xinjiang: diplomats China's innovation persistence pays off with great human progress China's lunar orbiter captures Earth's images during solar eclipse Live-fire anti-aircraft test held in Gobi desert DNA data storage becomes a top emerging technology Scientists make breakthrough that enables rockets to orbit longer Guangzhou schools will start pilot AI courses in September China revitalizes old howitzers with modern add-ons China-donated frigate arrives in Sri Lanka China firmly opposes U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, says senior official China missile test destroys trust Chinese, Singaporean universities join hands for AI research China's Chang'e-4 probe switches to dormant mode Top 10 emerging technologies of 2019- Safer nuclear reactors Golden women China to launch 100 additional satellites by 2025: official No need to overreact to Iran's nuclear moves: Chinese delegate China develops new generation recoverable satellite for commercial use China says Xi urged Trump to ease North Korea sanctions 'in due course' Beijing to impose sanctions on US firms involved in US$2.2 billion Taiwan arms deal US arms sales to Taiwan severely undermines China's sovereignty and security interests: spokesman China announces controlled deorbit plan for Tiangong-2 Galileo system's woes may provide opening for China's BeiDou After Taiwan buys arms, China holds military drills on southeast coast MND downplays recent PLA drills near Taiwan US should end pressure on Iran: Beijing 3 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
C. Pakistan Pakistan safe because of nuclear assets: CJP Low-cost Moon mission puts India among lunar pioneers India prepares to land rover on moon in global space race
D. USA US federal funding granted for SSR technology development U.S. Accuses Iran of 'Nuclear Extortion' and Vows More Sanctions GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy wins Oyster Creek contract Trump threatens to 'substantially' increase sanctions on Iran US research reactor goes digital in licensing 'first' Intruders jump fence at U.S. nuclear reactor that uses bomb-grade fuel NASA shake up in new race to the moon Trump, Netanyahu discuss Iran threat, sanctions in call - statements Trump Finds a Trade Fight He Doesn't Like in Uranium Imports Trump declines to set U.S. uranium production quotas Trump Sends Negotiators to Geneva for Nuclear Talks With Russians and Also Seeks to Limit Chinese Warheads Former U.S. official says Trump has left nuclear deal because Obama negotiated it
E. Europe IAEA Concludes Long Term Operational Safety Review at Belgium's Doel Nuclear Power Plant Sweden to boost Gotland air defense amid Russia tensions AP Analysis: Europe squeezed in Iran-US nuclear deal dispute Developing the First Ever Facility for the Safe Disposal of Spent Fuel A New Player in Fusion Research: Croatia Launches Dual Ion Beam Facility with IAEA Support Soviet sub that sank off Norway in 1989 still emitting radiation Italy seizes missile from far-right sympathisers
F. France France's Macron trying to save Iran nuclear deal by July 15 France says anti-tank missiles found in Libya were 'unusable'
G. UK UK to send a second warship to the Gulf amid crisis with Iran UK to facilitate release of Iranian tanker if it gets Syria guarantees: Hunt Leaked UK memo says Trump axed Iran deal to spite Obama Britain's Hunt says 'small window' to save Iran nuclear deal 4 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
H. Russia Russia supports US proposal on multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament Russia's floating nuclear power plant ready to heat up the Arctic 14 Russian Sailors Killed in Fire on Nuclear Sub Putin signs law suspending INF treaty with US Floating Nuclear Power Plant Will Be Key Element on Northern Sea Route Russia Confirms Submarine Hit by Deadly Fire Was Nuclear-Powered Russia not discussing Pentagon's nuclear test allegations with Washington - ambassador Russian Sailors Killed in Nuclear Sub Fire May Have Averted 'Global Catastrophe' - Official Kremlin regrets consequences of Iran's cuts to nuclear deal commitments Russia ready for ministerial meeting on Iranian nuclear program, says Lavrov Russian design bureau unveils nuclear-powered aircraft carrier project at naval show Russian Navy to get nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Russian Nuclear Sub Wreck's Radiation 100K Higher Than Normal, Scientists Say US escalates tension around nuclear deal to change power in Iran - Russian diplomat State support pivotal to Russia's nuclear sector, says report Nuclear bonds: Russia supplies fuel for China Experimental Fast Reactor
WEST ASIA
I. Iran Zarif says Iran has not violated nuclear deal Russian diplomat says Iran not after nuclear weapons Iran's decision on uranium stockpile in accordance with JCPOA: envoy Zarif says Iran's commitment to JCPOA will be commensurate to Europeans' INSTEX a preliminary step for Europe to implement its commitments: Zarif UN nuclear watchdog's board to meet on Iran at US request Iran expresses regret over Russia submarine fire IAEA to hold special meeting on Iran on July 10 Iran will enrich uranium as much as it needs, cleric says Iran threatens British shipping in retaliation for tanker seizure EU to consult with nuclear deal partners as Iran warns of new steps Iran ready for higher uranium enrichment: top adviser It is a 'sad irony' that U.S. has requested IAEA meeting on Iran, diplomat says Iran starts enriching uranium to above 3.67% Iran warned after ratcheting up tensions with higher enrichment 5 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Macron, Rouhani discuss ways to save nuclear deal Zarif: Iran's nuclear steps reversible only through E3 compliance MP: Iran needs 90% uranium for maritime propellers Iran nuke deal violation condemned UN nuclear inspectors will report back on Iran's enrichment move Iran's second step in reducing nuclear commitments does not mean quitting JCPOA: MP Iranians despair over nuclear deal confrontation Iran's uranium enrichment degree reaches 4.5 percent The Iran Crisis: How the Nuclear Deal Started to Unravel, and What's Next Iran says will not breach JCPOA unless 'bizarre actions' are taken Russia to continue trade with Iran regardless of U.S. sanctions Iran Guards commander says US bases are in range of its missiles Government: Iran's commitment to JCPOA will match Europeans' Zarif: 'U.S. has no standing to raise JCPOA issues' Russian diplomat urges Europe to save nuclear deal Rouhani says U.S. call for UN nuclear watchdog meeting is 'farcical' Timeline: Iran's recent clashes with the West over Gulf shipping, nuclear plans Iran, Russia say US 'was isolated' at IAEA's special meeting Iran ready to talk if U.S. lifts sanctions, Pompeo skeptical U.S. 'holding off' sanctions on FM Zarif: sources Authorities unanimous on Iran's JCPOA move: cleric Iran will not crack under U.S. pressure: National Interest Zarif discusses JCPOA, ties with Norwegian counterpart The U.S. and the JCPOA: Carrot-and-stick diplomacy without the carrot E3 reaffirm commitment to Iran deal Rouhani says U.S. has been left alone in quitting nuclear deal Academic's arrest hits effort to save Iran nuclear deal 'Iran says expects practical and effective steps by European partners to save JCPOA' European chief diplomats insist on the need to save nuclear deal Reducing commitments intended to give diplomacy a chance, Iranian nuclear spokesman says
J. Saudi Arabia Nuclear harm: Riyadh General Court to look into compensation suits Advanced nuclear reactors hold promise of clean energy for Gulf countries KSA takes a firm stand against Iran's nuclear program 6 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
K. UAE UAE national nuclear reactor operators First Barakah operators receive regulatory certification
L. Turkey Turkey's Erdogan: Russian missile defense system to arrive in 10 days: media Despite Turkey's assurances, U.S. still eyes sanctions, F-35 exit Turkey begins receiving Russian missiles in challenge to U.S. and NATO Explainer: What is at stake with Turkey's Russian air defense deal? Erdogan says Trump can waive sanctions on Turkey for Russian defense purchase Turkey's Erdogan says Russian S-400s will be fully deployed by April 2020
M. Israel Errant missile from Syria-Israel clash lands on Cyprus Israel says EU's response on Iran recalls Nazi appeasement
EAST ASIA
N. Japan Japanese entities to buy stake in major Russian LNG project Warship shows Japan's plan to expand military role 2011 Fukushima nuke disaster cesium takes shortcut back to Japan's waters Japan urges Iran to keep to nuclear deal after Tehran admits to breaching enrichment limit Japan says it won't discuss or retract SKorea export rules Japan prepares for U.S. request to join patrols in Strait of Hormuz Japan's defense chief has 'no plan' to dispatch SDF troops to the Middle East Japanese IAEA head Yukiya Amano to step down next year for health reasons: diplomatic source
O. North Korea North Korea upbeat on Trump-Kim surprise meeting as a chance to push nuclear talks North Korea says U.S. 'hell-bent on hostile acts' despite wanting to talk N. Korea vows to develop 'special' weapons as South buys US F-35A North Korea Threatens the South Over Its Purchase of U.S. Stealth Fighters N. Korea's Hwasong-15 ICBM can strike anywhere in US mainland: USFK North Korea says nuclear talks at risk if U.S.-South Korea exercises go ahead Pompeo hopes U.S., North Korea can be 'more creative' in nuclear talks North Korea suggests it might lift weapons test moratorium Transatlantic relations as far apart as ever North Korea condemns US for breaking its promise 7 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
P. South Korea Cheong Wa Dae proposes int'l probe into Japan's claim over S. Korea's strategic material control Pentagon: Seoul, Washington preparing joint exercise despite Pyongyang's warning
Q. Taiwan Iran conflict might hold defense key for Taiwan Taiwan to shut down 2nd nuclear reactor within days AEC approves Taipower's Jinshan decommission plan
R. Miscellaneous and World How Each Country Contributed to the Explosion in Energy Consumption Why The World Needs More Nuclear Power Trinity: "The most significant hazard of the entire Manhattan Project"
S. Op-ed
INDIA India and Pakistan: Two Nations Always At the Brink of Nuclear War Whoops: India's Navy Left Nearly Sunk Its Own $3 Billion Nuclear Submarine CHINA India should stop using 'China threat' to build up its military Arms sales to Taiwan a blow to Sino-US ties PAKISTAN Envisaging a South Asian peace dialogue? Importance Of Nuclear Submarines For Pakistan - Pakistan's relations with the US are important but their scope is limited USA Iran Is Rushing to Build a Nuclear Weapon - and Trump Can't Stop It What do Americans really think about conflict with nuclear North Korea? The answer is both reassuring and disturbing Janne Nolan: from "fellowette" to godmother of the D.C. nuclear policy community The Tell-Tale Flaws in Trump's North Korea Strategy RUSSIA Nuclear Holocaust: If an Israel vs. Russia War Broke Out in the Middle East What Would the U.S. Do if Russia Attacked with Nuclear Weapons? Spy Sub Down: How a Secret Russian Nuclear Submarine Caught Fire Why Chernobyl still divides Russia from the west WEST ASIA IRAN The complex brinkmanship behind Iran's nuclear response 8 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Game of chicken that can end in disaster: on U.S.-Iran relations EAST ASIA JAPAN Upper House poll will be vote on curbing Abe's dominant power Parties must close gap with reality in talks on nuclear power Latest science should apply to anti-quake steps of nuclear plants TAIWAN Richard D. Fisher, Jr. On Taiwan: China's hypersonic attack missiles require deterrent responses
T. Think Tanks Trump Won't Accept These Harsh Realities on Iran The Other Existential Threat: Nuclear Weapons & the 2020 Presidential Campaign Recycle everything, America-except your nuclear waste A Sign Of Easing Tension? India And Pakistan's Joint Venture To Forge Religious Ties New CRP: Optimizing Nuclear Techniques to Assess Accurate Quantitative Biomarkers of Added Sugar Intake in Adults (E43034) Finding evidence of undeclared past nuclear activity in Iran shows the IAEA process is working NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg's INF Response Is Inadequate U.S. Questions Russian CTBT Compliance Building Safeguards Into the Design of Spent Fuel Storage Facilities
U. Interviews, Press Releases ElBaradei says U.S. exit from nuclear deal lacks rationale, legal basis, and common sense 'Hell broke loose': Yashwant Sinha recalls time of India's nuclear test China, Russia and US define world order
V. Reports BP Statistical Review of World Energy 9 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
A. India fabrication & erection of equipments, piping, electrical, instrumentation, Upgrading obsolete Technology in consultancy, auxiliary and logistical Aircrafts services. This information was provided by the Union Minister of State (Independent PIB Delhi, July 1, 2019 Charge) Development of North-Eastern The contract for upgradation of AN-32 Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, aircraft with Ukraine has not been Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic terminated and 15 AN-32 aircraft have Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in already been upgraded at 1 BRD, Kanpur. written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. Out of 105 AN-32 aircraft planned for upgradation, 55 aircraft have been http://pib.nic.in/ upgraded – 40 aircraft at Kiev, Ukraine and PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1576811 15 aircraft at 1 BRD, Kanpur. Upgradation of the remaining aircraft is planned in a Additional nuclear reactors at phased manner depending upon the supply Kudankulam of mod kits by Ukraine. PIB Delhi, July 3, 2019 http://pib.nic.in/ A General Framework Agreement (GFA) PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1576430 for setting up two additional units of 1000 MW each at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu New Atomic Power Plants (Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, PIB Delhi, July 3, 2019 KKNPP-5&6 - 2X1000 MW) was signed by Nuclear Power Corporation of India During the last three years and the current Limited (NPCIL) with Atomstroyexport year, the government has accorded (ASE) of Russian Federation in June 2017. administrative approval and financial sanction for construction of twelve (12) Following the signing of the GFA, nuclear power reactors - ten (10) indigenous excavation for main plant buildings and 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors off-shore structures is in progress. The (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet mode & two work on the contracts for first priority (02) units of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) design works, first priority equipment, long to be set up in cooperation with Russian manufacturing cycle equipment, working Federation to enhance nuclear power documentation etc. is in progress. capacity in the country. This information was provided by the Presently, two public sector companies of the Union Minister of State (Independent Department of Atomic Energy, Nuclear Charge) Development of North-Eastern Power Corporation of India Limited Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, (NPCIL) and Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) are involved in Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in nuclear power generation. The Government written reply to a question in Lok Sabha has also amended the Atomic Energy Act today. to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power projects. http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1576810 There is no proposal under consideration at present to permit private sector in the area Space Technology of nuclear power generation. However, the PIB Delhi, July 3, 2019 private sector participates in the nuclear power sector by providing core reactor ISRO has started an annual program components, equipment, materials and called “Young Scientist Programme services in areas that include construction, (Yuvika-2019), on May 13, 2019. A total 10 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
of 111 students representing each State and successfully concluded on March 15, 2019 Union Territory of India were brought for benefiting 29 participants from 17 fifteen days to four ISRO Centers. The countries. programme was primarily aimed at imparting basic knowledge on Space This information was provided by the Technology, Space Science and Space Union Minister of State (Independent Applications. A special session was also Charge) Development of North-Eastern arranged for interaction with eminent space Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, scientists. Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in Indian Space Research Organisation has written reply to a question in Lok Sabha developed a capacity building program today. “UNNATI” for development of nano satellites for the participants from other http://pib.nic.in/ countries. First batch of this programme was PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1576830
Space Missions
PIB Delhi, July 3, 2019
The details of the space missions during the last three years and the current year are as follows:
Sl. No. Launch Launch Satellite Name Date Vehicle
1. 28/04/2016 PSLV-C33 IRNSS-1G
2. 23/05/2016 RLV-Technology Demonstrator
3. 22/06/2016 PSLV-C34 Cartosat-2C + 2 Student Satellites + 6 Foreign Satellites
4. 28/08/2016 SCRAMJET- Technology Demonstrator
5. 08/09/2016 GSLV-F05 INSAT-3DR
6. 26/09/2016 PSLV-C35 SCATSAT-1 + 2 Student Satellites + 5 Foreign Satellites
7. 06/10/2016 Foreign GSAT-18 Launcher
8. 07/12/2016 PSLV-C36 Resourcesat-2A
9. 15/02/2017 PSLV-C37 Cartosat-2D+ 2 Nano Satellites + 7 Foreign Satellites 11 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
10. 05/05/2017 GSLV-F09 GSAT-9
11. 05/06/2017 GSLV-MkIII- GSAT-19 D1
12. 23/06/2017 PSLV-C38 Cartosat-2E + 1 Student Satellite + 20 Foreign Satellites
13. 29/06/2017 Foreign GSAT-17 Launcher
14. 31/08/2017 PSLV-C39 IRNSS-1H
15. 12/01/2018 PSLV-C40 CartoSat-2 Series + 1 Micro Satellite + 1 Nano Satellite + 19 Foreign Satellites
16. 29/03/2018 GSLV-F08 GSAT-6A
17. 12/04/2018 PSLV-C41 IRNSS-1I
18. 14/11/2018 GSLV-MkIII- GSAT-29 D2
19. 29/11/2018 PSLV-C43 HysIS
20. 05/12/2018 Foreign GSAT-11 Launcher
21. 19/12/2018 GSLV-F11 GSAT-7A
22. 24/01/2019 PSLV-C44 Microsat-R + Kalamsat-V2
23. 06/02/2019 Foreign GSAT-31 Launcher
24. 01/04/2019 PSLV-C45 EMISAT
25. 22/05/2019 PSLV-C46 RISAT-2B
http://pib.nic.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1576828 12 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Electricity generation through iv. Entering into enabling agreements with atomic energy foreign countries for nuclear power cooperation including supply of fuel. PIB Delhi, July 4, 2019 This information was provided by the The share of atomic energy in the overall Union Minister of State (Independent electricity generation in the country was Charge) Development of North-Eastern about 2.93% in the year 2017-18. Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Nuclear share has remained around 3% of Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in the total electricity generation in the written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha country. The main reason for low share has today. been the low installed capacity base. The reasons for low capacity base are: http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1577210 i. Technology development and international embargo regime that Nuclear Plant Expansion persisted from 1974 to 2008. As a result, all the technologies for nuclear power Programme including the fuel cycle technologies had PIB Delhi, July 4, 2019 to be developed within the country, thus took time. Finance Minister’s budget speech in Lok Sabha on 29.02.2016 for 2016-17 budget ii. Another constraint faced during the first included the following reference to two decades was availability of financial nuclear energy: resources, as it had to solely depend on budgetary support. However, the “In the power sector, we need to diversify earlier constraints have now been the sources of power generation for long overcome and nuclear power term stability. Government is drawing up programme is poised for rapid a comprehensive plan, spanning next 15 expansion. to 20 years, to augment the investment in nuclear power generation. Budgetary To increase the share of nuclear power allocation up to Rs 3,000 crore per annum, generation, the Government has taken together with public sector investments, several steps to increase the nuclear power will be leveraged to facilitate the required capacity and to provide adequate quantity investment for this purpose.” of fuel. These include: To meet the large equity requirements i. Resolution of issues related to Civil involved in implementation of the planned Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) nuclear power expansion programme, Act & Creation of Indian Nuclear formation of Joint Ventures (JV) of Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP). Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) with other PSUs was ii. Accord of administrative approval and contemplated. In this context, NPCIL financial sanction of - ten (10) indigenous entered into Joint Ventures (JV) with 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Public Sector Undertakings NTPC Limited, Reactors (PHWRs) to be set up in fleet Indian Oil Corporation Limited and mode & two (02) units of Light Water National Aluminium Company Limited Reactors (LWRs) to be set up in (NALCO). The Government also brought cooperation with Russian Federation. an Amendment of the Atomic Energy Act iii. Amendment of the Atomic Energy Act to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector to enable Joint Ventures of Public Sector Companies to set up nuclear power Companies to set up nuclear power projects. projects. 13 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
The equity funding of the projects presently Outlay of major schemes: under construction and projects whose administrative approval and financial (in Rs crore) sanction is available, have been tied up. Schemes 2018-19 2019-20 This information was provided by the Union (RE) (BE) Minister of State (Independent Charge) Nuclear fuel Development of North-Eastern Region inventory 417 749 (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and R&D basic Science Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to and Engineering 1000 1320 a question in Rajya Sabha today. R&D for Fast Reactor S&T 210 271 http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1577209 Backed Fuel cycle projects 240 440 Radiation & Isotopes project 30 110 Rs 16,925 crore BE for Department of Atomic Energy in General Budget Nuclear Power Projects 64 110 2019-20 Nuclear Fuel Projects 164 170 PIB Delhi, July 5, 2019 AERB Expansion Project 15 40
The Union Budget 2019-20 proposed customs duty reductions on certain raw http://pib.nic.in/ PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1577393 materials and capital goods needed for nuclear power plants. While presenting the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate New Space India Ltd. incorporated Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said these as a new commercial arm of D/o measures will further promote domestic Space: Finance Minister Company to manufacturing. spearhead commercialization of various space products The customs duty reduction will be applicable for the following nuclear power PIB Delhi, July 5, 2019 plants: Presenting the General Budget 2019-20 in a. MahiBanswara Atomic Power project- the Parliament today, Union Minister of 1 to 4, Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman said that a Public Sector b. Kaiga Atomic Power project – 5 & 6, Enterprise viz. New Space India Limited (NSIL) has been incorporated as a new c. Gorakhpur Atomic Power project- 3 & commercial arm of Department of Space to 4, tap the benefits of the Research & Development carried out by ISRO. d. Chutka Atomic Power project- 1 & 2 The Company will spearhead With regard to Budget Estimates for commercialization of various space products Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Rs including production of launch vehicles, 16,925 crore has been provided for FY 2019- transfer to technologies and marketing of 20. The outlay for major schemes are given space products. The Minister said that, below: “India has emerged as a major space power with the technology and ability to launch satellites and other space products at globally 14 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
low cost. Time has come to harness this This information was provided by the ability commercially”. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern The Budget Estimates for Department of Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Space for FY 2019-20 is Rs 12,473.26 crore Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic as compared to the RE of Rs 11,200 crore in Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in FY 2018-19. written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. Outlay of major schemes: http://pib.nic.in/ (in Rs crore) PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1578139 Schemes 2018-19 2019-20 (RE) (BE) Nuclear Insurance Pool
Space Technology PIB Delhi, July 10, 2019 (including Gaganyan) 6993 8408 The Government has created an Indian Space Applications 1595 1885 Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) on 12th June, 2015. M/s. General Insurance INSAT Satellite Systems 1330 884 Corporation of India (GIC-Re), along with http://pib.nic.in/ several other Indian Insurance PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1577403 Companies, have launched the Indian Nuclear Insurance Pool (INIP) with a Space Station and Manned Space capacity of ¹ 1500 crore to provide Mission insurance to cover the liability as prescribed under Civil Liability for PIB Delhi, July 10, 2019 Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act, 2010. This has addressed issues related to Civil The activities associated with Space station Liability for Nuclear Damage (CLND) Act will be an extension of Gaganyaan and had facilitated commencement of Programme. work in setting up new nuclear power Gaganyaan Programme status: The design projects. and configuration of major subsystems are The present nuclear power capacity is finalised. The qualification tests pertaining 6780 MW comprising of 22 reactors. There to human rating of flight systems has are 9 reactors with a capacity of 6700 MW commenced and Cryogenic Engine tests are (including 500 MW PFBR being in progress. The crew training plan is implemented by BHAVINI) under finalised and the crew selection process has construction. The Government in 2017 commenced. has also accorded administrative approval The Gaganyaan Programme has been and financial sanction of 12 nuclear power approved by the Government of India and plants totaling to a capacity of 9000 MW. a new centre in ISRO, namely Human Space On their progressive completion, the Flight Centre (HSFC) is created to carry out installed nuclear capacity is expected to the activities related to human spaceflight. reach 8180 MW by 2020 and 22480 MW The Gaganyaan project team has been by 2031. identified. This information was provided by the ISRO has signed a MoU with Indian Air Union Minister of State (Independent Force for Crew Management Activities for Charge) Development of North-Eastern Indian Human Spaceflight Programme. The Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, scope of MoU includes co-operation in Crew Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic screening and selection, crew health Energy and Space, DrJitendra Singh in management, post travel rehabilitation etc. 15 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
written reply to a question in Lok Sabha Setting up of Neutrino today. Observatory http://pib.nic.in/ PIB Delhi, July 11, 2019 PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1578152 The Government of India has approved a Creation of Gaganyaan National project to build the India-based Neutrino Advisory Council Observatory (INO) at Pottipuram in the Theni District of Tamil Nadu. Briefly, the PIB Delhi, July 11, 2019 project aims to set up a 51000 ton Iron Calorimeter (ICAL) detector to observe The Gaganyaan project is on track to be naturally occurring atmospheric neutrinos realized by the 75th Independence day or in a cavern at the end of an approximately earlier. The design and configuration of 2 km long tunnel in a mountain. This will major subsystems are finalised. The help to reduce the noise from cosmic rays qualification tests pertaining to human that is ever present over-ground and rating of flight systems has commenced and which would outnumber the rare neutrino Cryogenic Engine tests are in progress. The interactions even in a detector as large as crew training plan is finalised and the crew ICAL. selection process has commenced. The INO project does not disturb the A Gaganyaan National Advisory Council ecosystem around the site and does not has been created with members from release any radiation, as it does not have different institutions and industries any radioactive substance. It measures cosmic rays. The Gaganyaan Advisory Council comprises of Secretaries of Department of Space, There is no other neutrino detector Department of Science and Technology, anywhere in India at present. ICAL at Department of Defence Research and INO would be the first of its type. Development, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Principal Scientific This information was provided by the Advisor to PM, Senior Officials from Armed Union Minister of State (Independent Forces, Indian Coast Guard, Former Charge) Development of North-Eastern Chairman of ISRO, Member of Space Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Commission, Former Director of Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Aeronautical Development Agency, Former Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in Indian Astronaut, Directors of Premier written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha Academic and Research Institutions and today. Heads of various Indian Industries. http://pib.nic.in/ This information was provided by the Union PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1578386 Minister of State (Independent Charge) Development of North-Eastern Region Expect a friend to order oil’: (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Iranian envoy messages India on Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and US sanctions Space, Dr Jitendra Singh in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today. Rezaul H Laskar
http://pib.nic.in/ Hindustan Times, July 3, 2019 PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1578382 India will decide on oil purchases in line with its national interests but Tehran is 16 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
hopeful New Delhi will resume Iranian oil the country. To further promote domestic imports that have been hit by American production, customs duty reductions have sanctions, Iranian ambassador Ali Chegeni also been proposed on fuels for nuclear said on Tuesday. power plants.
New Delhi stopped Iranian oil purchases https://www.financialexpress.com/budget/ after Washington ended on May 2 a six- budget-2019-atomic-energy-department-sees- month waiver that had allowed the top marginal-dip-in-allocation-customs-duty-cut- buyers, including India, to continue on-nuclear-fuel/1632453/ imports. India’s NSG hopes dashed by The US imposed sanctions on Iran after China yet again; Beijing continues pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal last its veto despite Modi-Xi bonhomie year. Vinay Kaura, July 6, 2019 “We understand India will act according to its national interests. We know India is China once again ensured that there was under pressure (but) India’s relationship no discussion on India’s admission into the with any other country is not against us,” Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), arguing Chegeni told reporters after the opening of that the issue can be discussed only after an exhibition of Iranian arts. a consensus evolves over the entry of all countries who have not signed the Non- https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/ Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NSG hopeful-that-india-will-resume-iran-oil-imports- plenary concluded recently in Nur-Sultan, says-envoy/story- formerly known as Astana, in Kazakhstan. LN1U9klssR2ZurRNO8gTFO.html The NSG is the most important global Budget 2019: Atomic energy multilateral governance body to regulate department sees marginal dip in export of nuclear materials and technologies, including dual-use items. allocation; customs duty cut on India is not a signatory to the NPT by nuclear fuel choice, but it remains outside the NSG due Financial Express, July 5, 2019 to global non-proliferation norms as well as geopolitical manoeuvrings. The Department of Atomic Energy has seen a dip of Rs 40 crore in its monetary https://www.firstpost.com/india/indias-nsg- allocation in the annual Budget presented hopes-dashed-by-china-yet-again-beijing- continues-its-veto-despite-modi-xi-bonhomie- on Friday. Finance Minister Nirmala 6946851.html Sitharaman on Friday also announced waving the custom duty for nuclear power and parts required for building eight India Says First US Nuclear indigenous atomic power plants. In 2018- Reactor Proposed in 2008 Still 19, the DAE was allocated Rs 16,965.25 Work ‘in Progress’ crore, which has come down to Rs Sputnik, July 10, 2019 16,925.51 crore in 2019-20. The Indian government said on The allocation for Nuclear Power Wednesday that it might not be able to Corporation of India (NPCIL) has gone reach a consensus with Westinghouse down drastically from Rs 4,665 crore in Electric Company (WEC) in the US to set 2018-19 to Rs 3,000 crore in 2019-20. The up six AP-1000 nuclear reactors in the NPCIL operates 22 nuclear power plants in southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. 17 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
India has been negotiating with the neighbors having an unholy nexus company for more than a decade, soon after between them and each constantly New Delhi and Washington signed a historic sniping at India’s heels, has placed a civil nuclear deal in 2008. tremendous strain on the revenue resources allocated to the armed forces. “Presently techno-commercial discussions to arrive at a project proposal for setting up The absence of any mention of the defence nuclear power reactors in cooperation with outlay in the budget presentation by the Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) are Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, still in progress”, Jitendra Singh, Minister of despite her having been the Defence State for Atomic Energy said on Wednesday Minister till less than two months ago in Parliament. reflected the continuing neglect of national security at the highest levels of government. https://sputniknews.com/asia/ 201907101076203822-india-says-first-us- https://www.financialexpress.com/budget/ nuclear-reactor-proposed-in-2008-still-work-in- budget-2019-optimising-the-defence-budget- progress/ and-the-need-for-organisational-reform/ 1641772/ Team Modi Seeks Bids For 6 New Submarines. $6.6 Billion At Stake India, Russia hold talks to boost space cooperation NDTV, July 11, 2019 India Today, July 13, 2019 Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has asked global warship India and Russia held high-level talks here makers to submit proposals to build six to elevate bilateral cooperation to the next conventional submarines in India to boost level in the field of space, including local shipyard capability and plug gaps in assistance in India’s maiden human space the navy’s underwater warfare fleet. flight mission ‘Gaganyaan’, according to Ministry of External Affairs. France’s Naval Group SA, German Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmBH, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Swedish Saab Kockums, Spanish Navantia Dmitry Rogozin, Director-General of SA and Russian Rosoboronexport OJSC Russia’s space agency ROSCOSMOS, led were asked to show if they can transfer the two sides in the meeting held on technology to build the diesel-electric Thursday. powered submarines in India, people familiar with the matter said in New Delhi, https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india- asking not to be identified as the discussions russia-hold-talks-to-boost-space-cooperation- were private. 1568017-2019-07-13
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/team- India’s Hypersonic Missiles Are a narendra-modi-seeks-bids-for-6-new-submarines- Major Threat to Pakistan 6-6-billion-at-stake-2067927 Michael Pack Budget 2019: Optimising the National Interest Blog, July 13, 2019 Defence budget and the need for organisational reform “Sources said that while the missile on which the platform was mounted Commodore Anil Jai Singh successfully took off from the range, the Financial Express, July 12, 2019 test could not be completed to demonstrate the vehicle at hypersonic In the prevailing security scenario with two speed as the Agni 1 did not reach the adversarial nuclear-armed continental desired altitude for the test. Scientists are 18 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
looking at the technical reasons behind this in a tweet here. “As a measure of and are studying all available data.” abundant precaution, Chandrayaan2 launch has been called off for today.” Ironically, the first launch of the Hypersonic Technology Demonstrator Vehicle, or The mission, which the ISRO chairman HSTDV, was a failure. The HSTDV, which said is the most complex mission it has ever is shaped almost like a sailing ship, is undertaken, was scheduled to launch at supposed to be a testbed for developing 09:21 p.m. GMT, or 02:51 a.m. local time future hypersonic weapons such as cruise on the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch missiles. It is launched atop an Agni 1, an Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III rocket. ISRO said Indian ballistic missile. it will announce the revised launch date later. India successfully carried out its first https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/indias- lunar mission, Chandrayaan-1, nearly 11 hypersonic-missiles-are-major-threat-pakistan- years ago. 66682 https://in.reuters.com/article/us-space-explora- Chandrayaan 2 Mission Launch tion-india-moon/indias-second-lunar-mission- Highlights: Launch Called Off Due delayed-due-to-technical-snag-isro- To Technical Snag, Revised Dates idINKCN1U90N7 At Least 10 Days Away, Says Isro B. China Firstpost, July 15, 2019 China to launch constellation of India’s second unmanned mission to the remote sensing satellites by 2021 Moon, named Chandrayaan 2, has been put China Daily, July 1, 2019 on hold citing technical issues, and a revised countdown is to be announced shortly. In a China is planning to launch a constellation first for India, ISRO will deposit a lander and of 192 remote sensing satellites by 2021, rover on the surface of the Moon on 6 reports China Central Television. Artificial September 2019. The orbiter-lander-rover intelligence technology will process the composite is expected to make a soft-landing images captured by the satellites, which on a previously unexplored region just 650 will have sensors with multiple kilometres from the lunar South Pole. This resolutions. This will allow poor quality will be the first time any mission touched images to be filtered out so that only useful down so far away from the equator. data is beamed back to earth. Scientists working on the project are also attempting https://www.firstpost.com/tech/science/launch- called-off-due-to-technical-snag-revised-dates-at- to enable the constellation to be self- least-10-days-away-says-isro-6988241.html piloting. When complete, the project is expected to provide better data for India’s second lunar mission delayed environmental monitoring, disaster prevention and mitigation, and traffic due to ‘technical snag’: ISRO management. Reuters, July 15, 2019 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/01/ India’s space agency said it delayed the WS5d1973b9a3103dbf1432b30b.html launch of its second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, in the early hours of Chinese Navy conducts 5 days of Monday due to a “technical snag” which military exercises in S. China Sea was observed less than an hour before the scheduled lift-off. Duncan DeAeth Taiwan News, July 1,2019 “A technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system at T-56 minute,” the Indian China’s naval forces are conducting a Space Research Organization (ISRO), said series of military training exercises in the 19 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
South China Sea, the China Maritime Safety WS5d1aae64a3103dbf1432b59e.html Administration announced over the weekend. The exercises began on June 29 China urges restraint to avoid and will conclude on July 3. The Chinese escalation of Gulf tensions government has designated a zone north of the Spratly island chain as restricted for the Global Times, July 2, 2019 duration of the exercises. The Spratly island US pressure ‘root cause’ of Iran’s uranium chain is one of the most contested areas of moves, China on Tuesday urged parties the South China Sea, with multiple islands related to the Iranian nuclear issue to being occupied by different nations with exercise restraint and avoid escalation of competing claims including China, the tension, after Tehran announced that it Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and had surpassed the limit of the low-grade Malaysia. enriched uranium stockpile under the The Chinese naval drills come on the heels 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Washington of Japanese naval exercises, jointly abandoned. conducted by the Japanese Coast Guard and http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ Maritime Self-Defense Force, that were 1156543.shtml carried out in nearby waters on June 26, reports the Asahi Shimbun. The Liberty China’s new ship-borne chopper to Times reports that the drills are likely intended to send a message to Japanese and raise PLA’s ability to new level: U.S. forces in the region, which have military specialists stepped up the frequency of Freedom of Liu Xuanzun Navigation Operations and military exercises in recent months. Global Times, July 2, 2019
https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/ China’s latest vessel-borne helicopter will 3735702 take the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s combat capability to a new level, Nuke research school to break Chinese military experts said on Tuesday ground soon after a full-sized model of the navy variant of the Z-20 utility helicopter was allegedly Yang Cheng in Tianjin spotted testing on a warship for the first China Daily, July 2, 2019 time.
China’s first university devoted to nuclear http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ 1156458.shtml research will break ground in September, with the construction expected to last until 2021 in the coastal area of Tianjin. The city’s Pentagon says China missile test construction authorities released the in South China Sea ‘disturbing’ information on their website on Monday, Reuters, July 2, 2019 vying for supervisors for the project. A total of 675 million yuan ($98.1 million) has been The Pentagon said on Tuesday a recent allocated for investment in the construction Chinese missile launch in the disputed area of 223,125 square meters, according to South China Sea was “disturbing” and the website. The new university will be contrary to Chinese pledges that it would located in the northern part of the China- not militarize the disputed waterway. The Singapore Tianjin Eco-City - a landmark South China Sea is one of a growing area jointly invested in by the Chinese and number of flashpoints in the U.S.-China Singaporean governments that is part of the relationship, which include a trade war, city’s Binhai New Area. U.S. sanctions and Taiwan. China and the United States have repeatedly traded barbs http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/02/ in the past over what Washington says is 20 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Beijing’s militarization of the South China Chinese, Japanese scientists Sea by building military installations on discover highest energy photon artificial islands and reefs. Zhang Zhihao China has not confirmed the missile tests and on Tuesday the foreign ministry declined to China Daily, July 3, 2019 comment, referring questions to the defense Scientists from China and Japan have ministry, which did not respond to a request detected the highest energy photon, for comment. The Chinese government has particles of light, ever observed on Earth. said that the military was carrying out drills Studying these speedy space travelers can between the Spratly and Paracel Islands shed light on their mysterious origins and starting last weekend and ending on acceleration mechanism, leading to new Wednesday, warning other shipping not to revelations about the extreme conditions enter a designated area. China’s claims in of the universe. The Tibet ASgamma the South China Sea, through which about experiment, a China-Japan joint research $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes each project located about 4.3 kilometers above year, are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the sea level on Tibet autonomous region, Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. recently spotted two dozen photons with https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china- energies above 100 trillion electron volts southchinasea/pentagon-says-china-missile-test- (TeV), one of which even registered a in-south-china-sea-disturbing- staggering 450 TeV. These finds represent idUSKCN1TX2QZ the first measurements of high energy photons over 100 TeV and the highest ever China to launch constellation with recorded, said Huang Jing, the 72 satellites for Internet of Things spokesperson for the project and a researcher from the Institute of High Xinhua, July 3, 2019 Energy Physics from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. A research institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has announced a http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/03/ constellation program, planning to launch WS5d1c45f0a3105895c2e7b6f6.html 72 small satellites for the Internet of Things in the next three years. U.S., Germany slam China at U.N. The program will be implemented by Beijing- Security Council over Xinjiang: based private satellite company “Commsat,” diplomats which was funded by the Xi’an Institute of Reuters, July 3, 2019 Optics and Precision Mechanics under the CAS. A total of eight communication The United States and Germany slammed satellites of the program were sent into space China during a closed-door United last year for in-orbit tests. The company Nations Security Council meeting on plans to initiate the commercial use of the Tuesday for detaining more than one program in 2020 with a launch of another million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims, four satellites, and to complete a global accusing Beijing of depriving them of their deployment of the constellation of 72 low- rights, diplomats said. China has been earth orbit satellites by the end of 2022. widely condemned for setting up detention These satellites will serve different segments complexes in remote Xinjiang. It describes including wildlife protection, field them as “education training centers” emergency rescue, vehicle and ship helping to stamp out extremism and give monitoring and logistics tracing, a CAS people new skills. source said. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-usa- http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/03/ rights/u-s-germany-slam-china-at-u-n-security- c_138195322.htm council-over-xinjiang-diplomats- 21 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
idUSKCN1TX2YZ with the Chang’e-4 lunar probe’s relay satellite “Queqiao,” and entered lunar China’s innovation persistence pays orbit four days later. The research team off with great human progress from the Harbin Institute of Technology cooperated with amateur radio operators Xinhua, July 4, 2019 in Spain and Germany in taking and receiving the photos. Four pictures taken “They were very interested in how Yutu-2 by the microsatellite during the solar works on the far side of the moon. One visitor eclipse have been sent back to Earth on even asked me how the Queqiao relay Wednesday. satellite sets the communication link between Earth and the probe,” Chen http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/04/ recalled. China has made great progress in c_138198527.htm science and technology in recent years, from probing space to exploring the deep sea, and Live-fire anti-aircraft test held in from observing the universe to researching Gobi desert micro particles. Advances have fueled the public zeal for science. China Online Military, July 4, 2019
Over 310 million visits were paid to more Anti-aircraft missile systems attached to a than 21,000 science popularization events brigade under the PLA 72nd Group Army during the week. “It is inspiring to learn fire at mock low-altitude aerial targets about new technologies so closely,” said a during a live-fire test on June 29, 2019. The visiting middle school student. Yutu-2 has test aimed to inspect the troops’ multiple- driven more than 200 meters on the far side direction target interception capabilities. of the moon to conduct research. The rover was reported to have found materials from http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-07/04/ deep inside the moon that could help content_9547728.htm unravel the mystery of the lunar mantle composition. The research has been DNA data storage becomes a top published online by the academic journal emerging technology Nature. By Yang Yang http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/04/ China Daily, July 5, 2019 c_138198458.htm DNA data storage has become a top 10 China’s lunar orbiter captures emerging technology of 2019 on this year’s Earth’s images during solar eclipse World Economic Forum’s annual list released in Dalian, Northeast China’s Xinhua, July 4, 2019 Liaoning province. Other technological With the shocking images of the recent total breakthroughs with the greatest potential solar eclipse in South America still fresh in to make a positive impact on our world memory, have you imagined what Earth include social robots, cheaper and safer would look like during the solar eclipse if nuclear reactors and a novel way of you were on the moon? A microsatellite reining in rogue proteins. developed by the Harbin Institute of The technologies on the list were selected Technology in northeast China’s based on their potential to have a Heilongjiang Province, which is now mainstream impact on societies and orbiting the moon, took photos of Earth economies within five years and be both during the solar eclipse in the early hours of disruptive and attractive to investors and Wednesday (Beijing time). The microsatellite, researchers. “From income inequality to weighing 47 kg and named Longjiang-2, climate change, technology will play a was sent into space on May 21, 2018 together 22 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
critical role in finding solutions to the intelligence to primary and middle school challenges our world faces today. This year’s students in September, education officials emerging technologies demonstrate the said on Monday. The provincial capital’s rapid pace of human innovation and offer bureau of education is now selecting about a glimpse into what a sustainable, inclusive 100 schools to feature the pilot AI courses future will look like,” said WEF CTO Jeremy and further promote intelligent education, Jurgens, at the 2019 World Economic it said in a statement on its website. By Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New 2022, all primary and middle schools in Champions, also known as the Summer the city will have AI courses in their regular Davos Forum. curriculum to help train and nurture AI talent for the city, traditionally a http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/05/ commercial hub. WS5d1ec132a3105895c2e7be2c.html http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/05/ Scientists make breakthrough that WS5d1e8414a3105895c2e7bc3d.html enables rockets to orbit longer China revitalizes old howitzers Xinhua, July 5, 2019 with modern add-ons Chinese scientists have made a breakthrough Liu Xuanzun in cryogenic rocket engine technology that can extend the orbital period of rockets from Global Times, July 4, 2019 a few hours to 30 days, providing support for China’s future deep space exploration. A Type 66 cannon-howitzer system Cryogenic rocket engines are specially attached to an army brigade with the PLA designed to work at extremely low 77th Group Army sends its 152mm shells temperatures. They use non-toxic and non- at a simulated target during a live-fire polluting propellants, such as liquid training exercise in plateau area. hydrogen and liquid oxygen, which are China has revitalized a type of howitzer more cost-efficient than others. that has been part of the People’s The engine has been widely used in domestic Liberation Army (PLA) arsenal for more and foreign launch vehicles, including than half a century by updating it with China’s Long March-5 and Long March-7 equipment that suits the needs of modern carrier rockets. However, most of these warfare. The 152 millimeter cannon- rockets can orbit only a few minutes or a howitzer is one of the most widely used few hours. An extended orbital period has pieces of artillery in the Chinese military, puzzled the aerospace community for a long and the PLA has developed new tactics time. Scientists from the China Academy of and equipment to let this old weapon shine Launch Vehicle Technology have developed even after 50 years of practical two insulating materials that can reduce deployment, China Central Television propellant evaporation loss and keep rockets (CCTV) reported on Wednesday. in flight for longer than before. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/05/ 1156775.shtml c_138201446.htm China-donated frigate arrives in Guangzhou schools will start pilot Sri Lanka AI courses in September Xinhua, July 8, 2019 Zheng Caixiong The China-gifted frigate “P625” arrived at China Daily, July 5, 2019 Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port on Monday morning. Speaking at the welcoming Guangzhou in Guangdong province will reception, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy begin offering courses in artificial 23 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva thanked China China missile test destroys trust for the gifted frigate, saying that the Sri Lankan navy would take the donation as a Taipei Times, July 9, 2019 suggestion of the good friendship between Between June 29 and Wednesday, the the two countries. The navy commander Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said that Sri Lanka is currently facing conducted unprecedented anti-ship maritime challenges with the surrounding ballistic missile tests in the South China sea being used by perpetrators for many Sea, launched from a missile battery unlawful acts including drug trafficking. stationed on one of the artificial islands With the acquisition of the frigate, the China has created, two US officials told surveillance capabilities of the navy will be US broadcaster MSNBC. Pentagon greatly enhanced. spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Dave http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/08/ Eastburn later confirmed the report, calling c_138209800.htm it “disturbing,” but Beijing denied testing missiles, saying that only “ammunition” China firmly opposes U.S. arms was fired during the exercises. China’s flimsy denial rings hollow: It is just the sales to Taiwan, says senior official latest in a long line of carefully crafted Xinhua, July 9, 2019 deceptions over its fishy behavior in the South China Sea and further erodes trust China is strongly dissatisfied and firmly in Beijing’s leadership. opposed to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and has lodged stern representations to the U.S. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/ side, a senior Chinese official said Tuesday. archives/2019/07/09/2003718341 Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Chinese, Singaporean universities Party of China (CPC) and director of the join hands for AI research Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, made the Xinhua, July 9, 2019 remarks when meeting with Igor Ivanov, An international joint center for artificial president of Russian International Affairs intelligence (AI) research has been Council and former Russian foreign established by China’s Shandong minister. University and Singapore’s Nanyang “Taiwan question is purely China’s internal Technological University (NTU). The affairs and allows no outside interference,” research institute was inaugurated earlier Yang said. “The will and determination of this month in Jinan, capital of east China’s the Chinese government and people in Shandong Province. Fan Liming, president safeguarding national sovereignty and of Shandong University, said the research territorial integrity is firm and unswerving.” institute would become a platform for China urges the U.S. to fully understand the scientific research, talent training and damages of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, abide great successes through its global by the one-China principle and the three university resources and scholars. China-U.S. joint communiques, immediately http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/09/ correct its mistake and withdraw the c_138212102.htm planned arms sales to and sever military ties with Taiwan so as to avoid further damage China’s Chang’e-4 probe switches to bilateral relations and peace and stability to dormant mode across the Taiwan Strait, Yang said. Xinhua, July 9, 2019 http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/09/ c_138212545.htm Both the lander and the rover of the Chang’e-4 probe switched to dormant 24 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
mode for the lunar night on the far side of China to launch 100 additional the moon on Tuesday morning. The scientific satellites by 2025: official instruments on the Chang’e-4 probe worked well during the seventh lunar day after the Global Times, July 10, 2019 probe made the first-ever soft-landing on the Nearly 100 Chinese satellites will be Von Karman Crater in the South Pole- launched into space before 2025, adding Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on to the more than 200 that are already in Jan. 3, according to the Lunar Exploration orbit, said a Chinese official on Tuesday. and Space Program Center of the China The announcement was made by Yu Qi, National Space Administration. A new an official at the China National Space batch of 1.2 G scientific detection data Administration, at a conference held in obtained by the probe was sent to the core Beijing, news portal chinanews.com research team for analysis in early July. reported on Tuesday. Developing the http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/09/ space economy has become a trend in WS5d246f0ea3105895c2e7c8dd.html space development around the world, said Yu, noting that China had developed the Top 10 emerging technologies of fundamental and proper environment to 2019- Safer nuclear reactors accelerate the space economy with breakthroughs in space technologies. China Daily, July 9, 2019 http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ The great risk with nuclear power is that 1157389.shtml the fuel rods can overheat and, when mixed with water, produce hydrogen, which can No need to overreact to Iran’s then explode. New fuels are coming online nuclear moves: Chinese delegate that are much less likely to overheat and, if they do, produce very little or no hydrogen. Xinhua, July 11, 2019 The advantage is these new configurations The international community should not can replace existing fuel rods with little overreact to Iran’s recent nuclear moves modification. because they do not incur any http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/09/ proliferation risks, said Fu Cong, head of WS5d23c640a3105895c2e7c581_9.html the Chinese delegation at an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Golden women Governors meeting on Wednesday. “We do not, we should not overreact to the By Shan Jie actions taken by Iran, because in our view, these actions do not incur any proliferation Global Times, July 9, 2019 risks, and they do not contravene Iran’s Female nuclear reactor operators conquer obligation under the safeguard difficulties to achieve their goals, In nuclear agreement,” said Fu, who is director power plants, reactor operators are called general of the Department of Arms “golden people” Of the first 140 operators Control of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant in East China expressed at the meeting its regret China’s Shandong Province, only five are over Iran’s exceeding some of the limits women “Golden women” sometimes have under the 2015 nuclear deal, while noting to overcome greater difficulties on the way that the current situation came as a result to becoming qualified operators of the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ Iran nuclear deal and its imposition of 1157281.shtml unilateral sanctions against Iran. “This 25 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
whole meeting started from a very funny China says Xi urged Trump to ease situation,” Fu noted, “because it is called for North Korea sanctions ‘in due by the U.S., a country that withdrew course’ unilaterally from the JCPOA, and it is the U.S. that asked to convene the meeting to Cate Cadell, David Brunnstrom discuss the implementation by a member of the JCPOA, so we think it is quite Reuters, July 12, 2019 paradoxical. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged U.S. Fu urged the United States to abandon its President Donald Trump last month to maximum pressure policy against Iran and show flexibility in dealings with North to resume the agreement. “We are fully Korea and ease sanctions on the country committed to the JCPOA, and we are “in due course,” China’s Foreign Ministry making every effort to implement the said on Friday. A senior U.S. official said commitment we have undertaken under the U.S. policy continued to be to maintain JCPOA,” he said. “We also believe that the sanctions on North Korea until it gives up Joint Commission is the right place to discuss its nuclear weapons and the State issues related to the implementations of Department reiterated that it expected JCPOA,” he added. Fu also called on related countries around the world to fully parties to accelerate efforts and take concrete implement and enforce them. actions so that Iran could reap the economic China signed up for strict U.N. sanctions benefit promised under the nuclear deal. following repeated North Korean nuclear http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/11/ and missile tests but also has suggested c_138217255.htm they could be eased as a reward for good behaviour. Chinese Foreign Ministry China develops new generation spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters recoverable satellite for commercial that Xi briefed Trump on China’s position on North Korea when they met on the use sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka. Xinhua, July 11, 2019 “President Xi ... pushed the U.S. side to show flexibility and meet the North China is developing a new generation Koreans half way, including easing recoverable satellite for commercial use, sanctions in due course,” Geng said. which is expected to make its maiden flight in 2020, according to a space engineer. https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa- Delivering a report at a science china/china-says-xi-urged-trump-to-ease-north- communication salon recently, Zhao korea-sanctions-in-due-course-idINKCN1U710I Huiguang, chief designer of the recoverable satellite from the China Academy of Space Beijing to impose sanctions on US Technology, said China’s new generation firms involved in US$2.2 billion recoverable satellite is able to return 500 kg Taiwan arms deal to 600 kg payloads back to Earth from space. So far, China has launched 25 recoverable Teddy Ng satellites, and their usage is shifting from South China Morning Post, 12 July, 2019 resources investigation to space science, according to Zhao. Beijing said on Friday it will issue sanctions against the US companies http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/11/ involved in the latest arms sale to Taiwan, c_138218151.htm as tensions between China and the United States continue to rise. 26 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
The foreign ministry said in a brief statement (CMSEO) on Saturday announced its plan that the move by Washington had violated to deorbit Tiangong-2 space lab in the near China’s territorial sovereignty and national future. The controlled re-entry in the security. “To protect our national interest, atmosphere after successfully completing China will impose sanctions on the US experiments and tasks on time, marks solid companies involved in the arms sale,” technical progress for further development ministry spokesman Geng Shuang was of manned space, according to an expert. quoted as saying. Tiangong-2 is slated to re-enter the atmosphere on July 19, small debris is likely https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/ to fall into the designated safe area - from article/3018419/beijing-impose-sanctions-us- 160 degrees and 90 degrees west longitude, firms-involved-us22-billion-taiwan from 30 degrees to 45 degrees south latitude - in the South Pacific Ocean, US arms sales to Taiwan severely according to the press release CMSEO sent undermines China’s sovereignty the Global Times on Saturday. and security interests: spokesman http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ China Military Online, July 12, 2019 1157727.shtml
Chinese military is strongly dissatisfied and Galileo system’s woes may firmly opposed to US arms sales to Taiwan, provide opening for China’s and has lodged stern representations to the BeiDou US side. Wu Qian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense made the Tu Lei comments on Thursday in response to the US planned arms deal worth 2.22 billion US Global Times, July 14, 2019 dollars with Taiwan. The sales of weapons approved by the US State Department The breakdown of the Galileo navigation includes selling General Dynamics (GD) satellite system over the weekend has M1A2 Abrams tank and Stinger anti-aircraft triggered users’ concern about the service, missiles to Taiwan. and it could bring opportunities to China’s navigation satellites to serve European “Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s clients, analysts said. The entire Galileo territory. China’s firm opposition to the US system suffered an unexpected signal arms sales to Taiwan is clear and consistent. outage beginning on Thursday, July 11 at The US arms sales to Taiwan severely 1 am Coordinated Universal Time, (9 am violates the one-China principle and the Beijing time). A note posted on gsc- three China-US joint communiques,” Wu europa.eu, the official website of the said. “It grossly interferes in China’s internal European Global Navigation Satellite affairs, undermines China’s sovereignty and Systems Agency, showed that 22 of the 24 security interests, severely damages satellites remain “not usable” as of press development of relations between the two time, and the status of only two satellites countries and their militaries, and seriously was shown as “testing.” harms peace and stability across the Taiwan http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ Strait.” 1157850.shtml http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-07/11/ content_9555061.htm After Taiwan buys arms, China holds military drills on southeast China announces controlled deorbit coast plan for Tiangong-2 Reuters, July 14, 2019 Global Times, July 12, 2019 China’s military recently carried out air China Manned Space Engineering Office and naval drills along its southeast coast, 27 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
the Defence Ministry said on Sunday, Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the following the latest arms sales from the remarks at a regular media briefing, one United States to self-ruled Taiwan, which day after Federica Mogherini, EU’s foreign China claims as a renegade province. In a affairs and security policy chief, said at an brief statement, and without giving an exact EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels geographical location, the ministry said that that they don’t view Iran’s breaches as the People’s Liberation Army had in “recent significant non-compliance to the nuclear days” held the exercises. “These drills were deal. Mogherini said that they also don’t routine arrangements in accordance with intend to invoke the nuclear deal dispute annual plans for the military,” it said, mechanism. without elaborating. According to Geng, Iran’s compliance https://in.reuters.com/article/china-taiwan/after- issue should be addressed under the taiwan-buys-arms-china-holds-military-drills-on- framework of the joint commission of the southeast-coast-idINKCN1U903T JCPOA. It’s also necessary to ensure a balance of rights and obligations of the MND downplays recent PLA drills JCPOA. On Sunday, the leaders of France, near Taiwan Germany and the UK issued a joint statement, saying that they are Taipei Times, July 15, 2019 “concerned about the risk that JCPOA [nuclear deal] will collapse following The Ministry of National Defense (MND) sanctions imposed by the US and as a yesterday downplayed recent Chinese result of Iran’s decision to no longer respect military exercises near Taiwan amid key provisions of the agreement.” speculation that they were meant to send a message after the US last week announced http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ it would move ahead with a major weapons 1158110.shtml deal with Taiwan. The ministry said the live- fire exercises announced by its Chinese C. Pakistan counterpart earlier in the day were part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s Pakistan safe because of nuclear (PLA) annual drills, and described them as assets: CJP “nothing more than routine exercises.” It has a complete picture of all PLA military The News International, July 10, 2019 maneuvers and exercises in the region and The Supreme Court has directed the would be in position to respond effectively Capital Development Authority (CDA) to and accordingly to defend the nation should demolish all illegal constructions near a the need arise, the ministry said. sensitive government facility, setting aside http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ a petition seeking their regularisation. archives/2019/07/15/2003718702 A three-member bench, headed by Chief US should end pressure on Iran: Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, heard the case. Justice Khosa asked Beijing the civic agency officials as to why the Global Times, July 16, 2019 illegal constructions close to a sensitive government facility were not being As the initiator of the current Iranian removed. nuclear tensions, the US should address the concern of the vast majority of the “Who is the CDA chairman? There will international community and give up the be no compromise on the defense of the wrong practice of putting extreme pressure country. Pakistan is secure because of its on Iran, China’s Foreign Ministry said on nuclear assets. Are you planting bombs of Tuesday. Geng Shuang, spokesperson for illegal constructions? If the court orders 28 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
are not implemented then you will have to a lunar probe less than an hour before face contempt proceedings,” said the chief blast-off because of a technical problem, justice. delaying its bid to become only the fourth nation to land a spacecraft on the Moon. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/496148- pakistan-safe-because-of-nuclear-assets-cjp The Chandrayaan-2 — or Moon Chariot 2 — India’s Moon mission is part of India’s Low-cost Moon mission puts India ambitious space programme, and its among lunar pioneers success would have propelled the South Asian nation into rarefied company: The Express Tribune, July 12, 2019 Russia, the United States and China are the only countries to have landed craft on India will step up the international space the lunar surface. race on Monday when it launches a low- cost mission to become only the fourth The spacecraft looked set for launch atop country to land a probe on the Moon. a Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III — India’s most powerful rocket — Just five days before the 50th anniversary of from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, but man’s first lunar landing, Chandrayaan-2 countdown was halted 56 minutes and 24 — or Moon Chariot 2 — will blast off from seconds before the planned liftoff at 2:51 a tropical island off Andhra Pradesh state am (2121 GMT Sunday). after a decade-long build-up. https://www.dawn.com/news/1494199/india- https://tribune.com.pk/story/2011690/8-low-cost- scrubs-moon-mission-launch-one-hour-before- moon-mission-puts-india-among-lunar-pioneers/ liftoff India prepares to land rover on moon in global space race D. USA US federal funding granted for The Express Tribune, July 12, 2019 SSR technology development India is looking to take a giant leap in its World Nuclear News, July 5, 2019 space program and solidify its place among the world’s spacefaring nations with its The funding, from the US Department of second unmanned mission to the moon, this Energy’s Advanced Research Project one aimed at landing a rover near the Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), will be used to unexplored south pole. develop composite structural technologies (COST) for the reactor. Moltex says this The Indian Space Research Organization will bring the Stable Salt Reactor- plans to launch a spacecraft using Wasteburner (SSR-W) - the first variant of homegrown technology on Monday, and it the SSR being developed by the company is scheduled to touch down on the moon - even closer to market and global roll-out. Sept. 6 or 7. The $141 million Chandrayaan- 2 mission will analyze minerals, map the “If we are to displace fossil-fuelled moon’s surface and search for water. generation fast, the entire plant - from reactor to final construction and operation https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/07/12/ - needs to consider the real-world india-prepares-to-land-rover-on-moon-in-global- financing, economic issues, operating space-race/ practicalities and lead times of nuclear new build,” said Adam Owens, principal India scrubs Moon mission launch investigator of Moltex’s COST one hour before liftoff programme. “This project demonstrates SSR-W as an economically practical Dawn, July 15, 2019 solution to climate change in the urgent India on Monday postponed the launch of timeframes required, in the highest impact 29 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
areas for global decarbonisation in the Hitachi-Nuclear-Energy-wins-Oyster-Creek- 2030s, rather than the 2040s or 2050s.” contra
https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US- Trump threatens to ‘substantially’ federal-funding-granted-for-SSR-technology-deve increase sanctions on Iran U.S. Accuses Iran of ‘Nuclear Doina Chiacu, Francois Murphy Extortion’ and Vows More Sanctions Reuters, July 10, 2019 Steven Erlanger President Donald Trump warned on The New York Times, July 10, 2019 Wednesday that U.S. sanctions on Iran would be increased “substantially” soon, The United States on Wednesday accused as the U.N. nuclear watchdog held an Iran of “nuclear extortion” and threatened emergency meeting at Washington’s further sanctions against Tehran, which has request to weigh Tehran’s breach of a begun stockpiling and enriching uranium nuclear deal. beyond the limits set in the 2015 accord that President Trump has abandoned. Trump also accused Iran of secretly enriching uranium for a long time but The United States called an emergency offered no evidence, and Iran said after meeting of the International Atomic Energy the 35-nation meeting in Vienna that it had Agency in Vienna on Wednesday in “nothing to hide”. U.N. inspectors have response to the Iranian moves, while a senior uncovered no covert enrichment by Iran French envoy was in Tehran exploring ways since long before its 2015 nuclear to reopen negotiations on compliance with agreement deal with world powers. the deal. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast- https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/world/ iran-usa/trump-threatens-to-substantially- europe/us-iran-nuclear-sanctions.html increase-sanctions-on-iran-idUSKCN1U510D
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy wins US research reactor goes digital in Oyster Creek contract licensing ‘first’ World Nuclear News, July 10, 2019 World Nuclear News, July 10, 2019
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has been The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission awarded a contract by Comprehensive (NRC) has licensed the first entirely digital Decommissioning International (CDI) to nuclear reactor instrumentation and decommission reactor internals and the control (I&C) system in the USA, at a reactor pressure vessel at the Oyster Creek university-based research reactor nuclear power plant in New Jersey, USA. originally built in 1962. The NRC licence CDI is a joint venture company of Holtec also for the first time covers parts certified and SNC-Lavalin. under standards laid down by a non-US regulatory body. GEH said today that its contracted handling and segmentation work at the boiling water Purdue University Reactor Number One reactor, which was shut down last (PUR-1) and its associated research facility September, will be carried out underwater have undergone a digital conversion and will be accomplished using the Primary which began in 2012, when the US Segmentation System that was designed in Department of Energy awarded the conjunction with REI Nuclear. GEH university a grant under its Nuclear Energy acquired the business and certain assets of University Program to replace reactor REI Nuclear in December last year. equipment with a state-of-the-art instrumentation and control system. The https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/GE- 30 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
fully digital system was developed by the NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine university in collaboration with Mirion participates in a press preview event of the Technologies and the Curtiss-Wright Corp. upcoming Paris Air Show at the National Press Club in Washington, U.S. June 6, http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/US- 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis research-reactor-goes-digital-in-licensing-firs The biggest change to rock the agency is Intruders jump fence at U.S. nuclear the demotion of Bill Gerstenmaier, who reactor that uses bomb-grade fuel was leading the efforts to return humans to the lunar surface. Timothy Gardner He has been with the agency since 1977, Reuters, July 10, 2019 led some of its most high profile programs and was the head of the human Two people jumped a security fence at a GE exploration office in a 14-year tenure. Hitachi research reactor near San Francisco, the U.S. nuclear power regulator said on The agency’s chief Jim Bridenstine Thursday, raising concerns over a plant that announced the changes in an internal is one of the few in the country that uses memo to employees, signaling the latest highly enriched uranium, a material that leadership changes. could be used to make an atomic bomb. https://in.reuters.com/article/space-exploration/ The intruders jumped a security perimeter nasa-shake-up-in-new-race-to-the-moon- fence at the Vallecitos reactor in Alameda idINKCN1U60G3 County on Wednesday afternoon, a 1,600- acre (647.5-hectare) site about 40 miles (64 Trump, Netanyahu discuss Iran km) east of San Francisco, the U.S. Nuclear threat, sanctions in call - Regulatory Commission said on its website statements in a security threat notice. Reuters, July 11, 2019 They escaped security at the plant after being detected, but shortly afterwards President Donald Trump spoke with suspects were detained outside the facility, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin the NRC said. The Alameda County Netanyahu about Iran on Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond White House said, the same day the U.S. to a request for comment. president threatened to “substantially” increase sanctions on Tehran to curb its https://in.reuters.com/article/usa-nuclearpower- nuclear activities. Iran recently started security/intruders-jump-fence-at-u-s-nuclear- enriching uranium beyond a limit reactor-that-uses-bomb-grade-fuel- established in a 2015 nuclear agreement idINKCN1U62DB with world powers, a deal from which Trump withdrew. Trump has since NASA shake up in new race to the intensified economic sanctions on Tehran, moon and tensions have escalated. Joey Roulette The two leaders discussed cooperation Reuters, July 11, 2019 between the United States and Israel in advancing shared national security As NASA scrambles to meet U.S. President interests, including efforts to prevent Iran’s Donald Trump’s mandate to return humans malign actions in the region,” White to the moon by 2024, two longtime heads of House spokesman Judd Deere said on NASA’s human exploration wing were Thursday. demoted Wednesday in a slew of administrative shakeups, officials said in an Netanyahu’s office said the leaders internal memo. discussed Trump’s latest warning - issued 31 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
by tweet on Wednesday - to further tighten Working Group, with input from several sanctions. government agencies. “A fuller analysis of national security considerations with “The prime minister expressed his respect to the entire nuclear fuel supply appreciation for the president’s intention of chain is necessary,” the memorandum increasing the sanctions against Iran,” said. Netanyahu’s office said in a statement. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade- https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-iran-usa- uranium/trump-declines-to-set-u-s-uranium- israel/trump-netanyahu-discuss-iran-threat- production-quotas-idUSKCN1U8032 sanctions-in-call-statements-idINKCN1U628Z Trump Sends Negotiators to Trump Finds a Trade Fight He Geneva for Nuclear Talks With Doesn’t Like in Uranium Imports Russians and Also Seeks to Limit Jennifer Jacobs, Ari Natter, and Will Wade Chinese Warheads
Bloomberg, July 12, 2019 Peter Baker
President Donald Trump has found a trade The New York Times, July 15, 2019 fight he doesn’t like. After disrupting global President Trump is sending a high-level markets by imposing tariffs on steel, delegation to meet with Russian hundreds of billions of dollars worth of counterparts in Geneva this week to Chinese goods and even washing machines pursue an arms control treaty that for the and solar panels, Trump has decided against first time would cap the nuclear arsenals putting a cap on uranium imports, at least of not just the two largest powers, but for now. His decision came in a China as well. memorandum released by the White House late Friday. Mr. Trump broached the idea with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019- during their meeting in Osaka, Japan, last 07-12/trump-denies-uranium-miners-an-import- month and has also signaled his ambition cap-in-big-win-for-nuclear for such a three-way accord to President Xi Jinping of China, administration Trump declines to set U.S. uranium officials said on Monday. Russia has production quotas expressed interest; China has not. Valerie Volcovici, Timothy Gardner https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/us/ politics/trump-russia-china-nuclear-arms.html Reuters, July 13, 2019
President Donald Trump declined to issue Former U.S. official says Trump quotas for domestic uranium production late has left nuclear deal because on Friday and instead ordered a 90-day Obama negotiated it governmental review, a decision praised by U.S. nuclear power generators who fear The Tehran Times, July 15, 2019 curbs on fuel imports would boost costs. Ben Rhodes, former President Barack Trump said in a memorandum he did not Obama’s adviser, has said that U.S. concur with a U.S. Commerce Department President Donald Trump quit the 2015 investigation that found uranium imports nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, threaten to impair U.S. national security. because Obama negotiated it.
While Trump said the department’s findings “Did anyone really need a leaked “raise significant concerns”, he ordered a document from the UK Ambassador to deeper review by the U.S. Nuclear Fuel know that Trump pulled out of the Iran 32 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Deal because Obama negotiated it?” he Sweden to boost Gotland air tweeted on Sunday. defense amid Russia tensions Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador Reuters, July 1, 2019 to the U.S., said Trump seemed to be discarding the Iran nuclear deal for Sweden’s military said on Monday it “personality reasons,” as the deal had been would deploy an updated ground-to-air agreed to by Obama, the Daily Mail reported missile defense system on the Baltic Sea on Saturday. island of Gotland in another sign of tension in the region with Russia.The new system, Darroch said the Trump administration developed and built by defense firm Saab, was “set upon an act of diplomatic replaces the mobile anti-aircraft guns the vandalism” in its decision to abandon the military on Gotland have previously been JCPOA. equipped with. “Gotland is an important area from a military-strategic perspective,” https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438174/ Micael Byden, supreme commander of the Former-U-S-official-says-Trump-has-left-nuclear- Swedish Armed Forces, said in a deal-because statement.
E. Europe “Its geographical location gives the island significant military advantages in terms of IAEA Concludes Long Term protection and control of sea traffic, the Operational Safety Review at Baltic’s airspace and the ability to base Belgium’s Doel Nuclear Power military units and capabilities.” Although it is not a North Atlantic Treaty Plant Organization (NATO) member, Sweden IAEA Office of Public Information and has close ties to the alliance and has been Communication, July 1, 2019 beefing up its armed forces after decades of neglect amid increased anxiety over An International Atomic Energy Agency Russian sabre-rattling in the Baltic Sea (IAEA) team of experts has completed a region. review of long term operational safety at the Doel Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) Units 1 and https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sweden- 2 in Belgium operated by Engie Electrabel. defence-gotland/sweden-to-boost-gotland-air- The SALTO (Safety Aspects of Long Term defense-amid-russia-tensions- Operation) follow-up review mission was idUSKCN1TW27U requested by the Belgian Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC). Doel’s Units 1 and AP Analysis: Europe squeezed in 2 went into operation in 1975. FANC Iran-US nuclear deal dispute approved a 10-year extension of the units’ Jon Gambrell operating license in December 2015, provided that a set of safety conditions is Reuters, July 5, 2019 fulfilled every year. During the 25-28 June mission, the SALTO team reviewed Doel’s When it comes to saving Iran’s nuclear response to recommendations and deal, Europe finds itself in the impossible suggestions made during an initial SALTO situation of trying to salvage an accord mission in 2017. The team—comprising unraveling because of the maximalist U.S. seven experts from Canada, the Czech sanctions campaign. Since President Republic, South Africa, Sweden, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Switzerland and the IAEA—said that plant America from the accord over a year ago, management had: a slow fuse has burned through Iran. At first, it appeared Iranian officials thought https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea- they might be able to wait out Trump. They concludes-long-term-operational-safety-review-at- spoke about “strategic patience” as the belgiums-doel-nuclear-power-plant U.S. 2020 presidential election loomed. 33 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
That talk faded as U.S. sanctions choked off A New Player in Fusion Research: Iran’s vital crude oil sales abroad and then Croatia Launches Dual Ion Beam began targeting its paramilitary Facility with IAEA Support Revolutionary Guard and officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Laura Gil Soon, the talk changed to “strategic action” and making threats to the Strait of Hormuz, IAEA Office of Public Information and a crucial global oil supply point. Communication, July 11, 2019
https://www.apnews.com/ A dual ion beam facility, which enables 460624b689454f4880772eda59c7d513 two ion beams from different accelerators to be combined simultaneously, has been Developing the First Ever Facility inaugurated in Zagreb, strengthening Croatia’s fusion research and expanding for the Safe Disposal of Spent Fuel the global supply of facilities with such Nathalie Mikhailova cutting-edge capabilities. Installed with IAEA support, the Ruðer Boškoviæ IAEA Bulletin, July 10, 2019 Institute’s He Ion Source & DiFU Dual- Beam Facility will help scientists test and Following several decades of committed develop new structural materials implementation of disposal strategies in indispensable for fusion energy to become Finland and Sweden, as well as cooperation a reality. Only very few facilities of this in the development of a safe disposal solution kind exist worldwide. based on a Swedish design, the first ever deep geological repository for spent fuel is Fusion researchers and engineers work to being constructed in Olkiluoto, Finland. develop methods to harness the power Sweden, along with other countries, is also generated by the fusion of light nuclei, a working towards building such a facility. process comparable to the energy After spent fuel is removed from nuclear production of stars. It holds the promise power reactors, it continues to generate of abundant, safe and carbon free energy. significant heat for several decades. However, fusion reactions generate highly energetic neutrons and alpha particles It is therefore placed in water pools or in which, after some time of exposure, can dry storage facilities to cool down. Storage damage reactor walls. Ion beam pools and containers ensure that spent fuel technology like the dual-beam facility in maintains its integrity and no radiation or Croatia can simulate these extreme radioactive materials are released, thereby conditions and help to develop new protecting people and the environment from materials sturdy enough to sustain them. exposure. However, spent fuel remains highly radioactive for several thousands of https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/a-new- years and needs to be isolated for several player-in-fusion-research-croatia-launches-dual- hundred thousand years. One way to ion-beam-facility-with-iaea-support dispose of spent fuel — when declared as waste — once the heat has decayed is to Soviet sub that sank off Norway in bury it in engineered facilities several 1989 still emitting radiation hundred metres below ground level, in deep geological disposal facilities. The objective is Reuters, July 10, 2019 to contain its radioactivity by encapsulating A Soviet nuclear submarine which sank the spent fuel in robust and leak-tight off Norway in 1989 is still emitting containers and isolating it by burying it. radiation, researchers said on Wednesday https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/developing- following an expedition that used a the-first-ever-facility-for-the-safe-disposal-of- remotely controlled vehicle for the first spent-fuel time. The wreck of the Komsomolets lies 34 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
on the bottom of the Norwegian Sea at a F. France depth of about 1,700 meters (5,577 feet). France’s Macron trying to save Authorities have conducted yearly Iran nuclear deal by July 15 expeditions to monitor radiation levels since the 1990s but this year’s inspection was the Reuters, July 7, 2019 first one to use a remotely operated vehicle French President Emmanuel Macron says called Aegir 6000 to film the wreckage and he is trying to find a way by July 15 to take samples which will be further analyzed. resume dialogue between Iran and The scientific mission’s samples show levels Western partners. Macron’s office said in of radioactivity at the site up to 800,000 a statement that the French leader spoke higher than normal, the Norwegian for more than an hour Saturday with Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani amid in a statement. “This is of course a higher a standoff between Tehran and the U.S. level than we would usually measure out at sea but the levels we have found now are Macron expressed “strong concern about not alarming,” said expedition leader Hilde new weakening” of the 2015 accord aimed Elise Heldal of the Norwegian Institute of at curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He Marine Research. said they would “explore between now and July 15 conditions for resumed https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia- dialogue among all parties.” The statement submarine-nuclear/soviet-sub-that-sank-off- didn’t elaborate. Europe is struggling to norway-in-1989-still-emitting-radiation- save the 2015 accord after President idUSKCN1U51Q7 Donald Trump abandoned it last year. Iran has set a deadline for Sunday for Italy seizes missile from far-right Europe to offer new terms to the accord, sympathisers and is threatening to accelerate uranium enrichment. AFP, July 15, 2019 https://www.apnews.com/ Italian police seized an air-to-air missile, d72d880f76a14caf8c6e18b74d0a99a3 machine guns and rocket launchers during raids sparked by an investigation into far- France says anti-tank missiles right extremist groups on Monday, a huge found in Libya were ‘unusable’ haul of weapons that authorities said was almost without precedent. Police arrested Reuters, July 10, 2019 three people, including Fabio Del Bergiolo, 50, a former candidate for the neo-fascist France said on Wednesday anti-tank Forza Nuova party, whose home was found missiles it bought from the United States to contain a huge stash of arms as well as and were later found in a base belonging neo-Nazi propaganda and Hitler to troops loyal to Libya’s eastern memorabilia. commander Khalifa Haftar were never intended for sale or transfer to any party “During the operation, an air-to-air missile to Libya’s conflict. The Army Ministry said in perfect working order and used by the the missiles were intended for the “self- Qatari army was seized,” police said of the protection of a French military unit 245-kilogramme (540-pound) Matra missile. deployed to carry out intelligence and They also found automatic assault rifles that counter-terrorism operations”. “Damaged they described as “latest generation” among and unusable, the armaments were being the cache. temporarily stocked at a depot ahead of their destruction,” the ministry said in a https://www.afp.com/en/news/15/italy-seizes- statement. missile-far-right-sympathisers-doc-1is8dq4 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-libya- missiles/france-says-anti-tank-missiles-found- in-libya-were-unusable-idUSKCN1U50Q5 35 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
France launches new nuclear- UK to facilitate release of Iranian powered attack submarine tanker if it gets Syria guarantees: Saudi Gazette, July 12, 2019 Hunt Reuters, July 13, 2019 President Emmanuel Macron on Friday launched the first of a new fleet of nuclear- British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt told powered attack submarines that aims to his Iranian counterpart on Saturday that ensure French naval superiority in the Britain would facilitate the release of the coming decades.The first French submarine detained Grace 1 oil tanker if Tehran gave to be launched in a decade, the Suffren is guarantees it would not go to Syria. The the front-runner for a new line of Barracuda tanker was seized last week by British attack-class vessels, 12 of which have Royal Marines off the coast of the British already been ordered by Australia. Mediterranean territory of Gibraltar on suspicion of violating sanctions against A vast, 99-metre (325 foot) behemoth of Syria. Iran on Saturday reiterated its call black steel, the Suffren was launched at a for the ship’s release. It denies the tanker dry-dock ceremony in the northern port of was taking oil to Syria in violation of Cherbourg.Built by French shipbuilder European Union sanctions. Naval Group for the French navy, the Suffren is a Barracuda-class nuclear attack https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast- submarine designed to replace the Rubis- iran-tanker-britain/uk-to-facilitate-release-of- class submarines which have been in service iranian-tanker-if-it-gets-syria-guarantees-hunt- since the 1980s. idUSKCN1U80II
http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571692/World/ Leaked UK memo says Trump Europe/France-launches-new-nuclear-powered- axed Iran deal to spite Obama attack-submarine Jill Lawless G. UK AP News, July 14, 2019 UK to send a second warship to the Gulf amid crisis with Iran A U.K. newspaper has published more leaked memos revealing a British The Gaurdian, July 13, 2019 ambassador’s blunt assessments of the Trump administration, including one in The UK is stepping up its military presence which the envoy to Washington claimed in the Gulf by sending a second warship to President Donald Trump pulled out of the the region to protect British commercial oil Iran nuclear deal to spite predecessor tankers, the Ministry of Defence has said. Barack Obama. In the May 2018 cable The HMS Duncan, a Type 45 destroyer, will published by the Mail on Sunday, U.K. be deployed within days after it completed Ambassador Kim Darroch called Trump’s a course of Nato exercises in the Baltic Sea decision to abandon the international with the aim to be in the Gulf region by next accord “an act of diplomatic vandalism, week. seemingly for ideological and personality reasons” because the pact “was Obama’s The ship will work alongside the Royal deal.” Navy’s frigate HMS Montrose and US Gulf allies, but will not participate in Darroch wrote the memo after then- Washington’s proposed global maritime Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson visited coalition to protect shipping in the area. Washington in a failed attempt to https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/12/ persuade the United States not to abandon iran-warns-western-powers-to-leave-region-amid- the 2015 nuclear agreement. gulf-crisis https://www.apnews.com/ 7894d6dc1d1c4a3b9747558553ddcdbf 36 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Britain’s Hunt says ‘small window’ plant (NPP), built by Russia and called the to save Iran nuclear deal ‘Akademik Lomonosov,’ has received a license for operation. It is to provide heat Reuters, July 15, 2019 and energy to Russia’s remote regions in the Arctic. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Monday that there was still time to save According to Rosenergoatom, at the end the Iran nuclear deal and that despite the of August the vessel will be towed to United States being Britain’s closest ally it Pevek, a port city on the Arctic coast of disagreed on how to handle the Iran crisis. the Chukotka region. It will thus become The Brussels meeting will seek to flesh out the northernmost operating nuclear plant how to convince Iran and the United States in the world. to reduce tensions and initiate a dialogue amid fears that the 2015 deal is close to https://www.rt.com/business/463129-russia- collapse. U.S.-Iranian tensions have arctic-nuclear-power/ worsened since U.S. President Donald Trump decided last year to abandon the 14 Russian Sailors Killed in Fire nuclear deal under which Iran agreed to on Nuclear Sub curtail its atomic program in return for relief from economic sanctions crippling its The Moscow Times, July 2, 2019 economy. Fourteen submariners on board a Russian https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-iran- Defense Ministry research vessel were eu-britain/britains-hunt-says-small-window-to- killed in a fire while carrying out a survey save-iran-nuclear-deal-idUSKCN1UA0PW of the sea floor off Russia’s Arctic coast, the ministry was quoted as saying by H. Russia Russian news agencies. Russia supports US proposal on The incident took place on the AS-31 deep- multilateral agreement on nuclear sea nuclear submarine nicknamed disarmament Losharik, an unnamed source in the security forces told the RBC news website. TASS News Agency, July 1, 2019 Launched in 2003, Losharik was designed for research, rescue and special military Russia supports the US stance on the operations and can hold up to 25 crew feasibility to increase the number of members. participants under agreements on the nuclear weapons disarmament, Russian https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/07/02/ Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said 14-russian-sailors-killed-in-fire-on-nuclear-sub- at the Valdai International Discussion Club reports-a66257 on Monday. Putin signs law suspending INF “We are very seriously considering signals treaty with US coming from the United States in favor of this solution to problems, which keep piling Russian Times, July 3, 2019 up in the sphere of reduction and limitation of nuclear weapons,” Ryabkov said. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law suspending the Cold War- https://tass.com/defense/1066573 era INF Treaty. Putin announced in February that he would halt participation Russia’s floating nuclear power in the treaty after Washington’s abrupt plant ready to heat up the Arctic decision to pull out of the agreement. Russian Times, July 1, 2019 The Trump administration announced last October that the US would pull out of the The world’s first floating nuclear power 37 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
treaty which has been a cornerstone of called a survey of the sea floor near the European security since its signing in 1987. Arctic. Moscow later promised a ”mirror response” to the decision and said it would https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/07/04/ suspend its own participation. russia-confirms-submarine-hit-by-deadly-fire- was-nuclear-powered-a66277 https://www.rt.com/news/463288-putin-law- suspends-inf-treaty/ Russia not discussing Pentagon’s nuclear test allegations with Floating Nuclear Power Plant Will Washington — ambassador Be Key Element on Northern Sea Route TASS News Agency, July 6, 2019 The Moscow Times, July 4, 2019 Moscow is not discussing with Washington allegations of carrying out The construction and testing of Russia’s first above the “zero yield” nuclear tests earlier power plant are declared completed. On made by the Defense Intelligence Agency Thursday morning the installation was (DIA), Russia’s ambassador to the US, officially handed over from Baltic Yard to Anatoly Antonov, told TASS on Friday. Rosatom. Moscow is not discussing with At the ceremony, representatives of two Washington allegations of carrying out Russian state companies signed a document above the “zero yield” nuclear tests earlier saying that the Akademik Lomonosov made by the Defense Intelligence Agency passed all necessary tests and successfully (DIA), Russia’s ambassador to the US, met requirements. Anatoly Antonov, told TASS on Friday.
“It marks a significant milestone and certifies https://tass.com/world/1067360 that the obligations of the contractor to the customer have been fully met and that results Russian Sailors Killed in Nuclear are in line with the conditions of the Sub Fire May Have Averted contract,” Andrei Petrov, General Director ‘Global Catastrophe’ – Official of Rosenergoatom, said. The Moscow Times, July 8, 2019 https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/07/04/ floating-nuclear-power-plant-will-be-key-element- The 14 Russian sailors killed in last week’s on-northern-sea-route-a66285 nuclear submarine fire may have prevented a “planetary catastrophe,” a Russia Confirms Submarine Hit by high-ranking officer has reportedly said at Deadly Fire Was Nuclear-Powered their funeral ceremony this weekend. The Moscow Times, July 4, 2019 The sailors were killed on July 1 when a fire broke out as their deep-water research Russian President Vladimir Putin disclosed submarine was surveying the seafloor near on Thursday for the first time that a secret the Arctic, the Russian Defense Ministry military submarine hit by a fatal fire three has said. President Vladimir days ago was nuclear-powered, Putin disclosed for the first time on prompting Russia’s defense minister to Thursday that the secret military assure him its reactor had been safely submarine was nuclear-powered, contained. prompting the defense minister to assure him its reactor had been safely contained. Russian officials have faced accusations of trying to cover up the full details of the https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/07/08/ accident that killed 14 sailors as they were russian-sailors-killed-in-nuclear-sub-fire-may- carrying out what the defense ministry have-averted-global-catastrophe-official-a66316 38 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Kremlin regrets consequences of Russian design bureau unveils Iran’s cuts to nuclear deal nuclear-powered aircraft carrier commitments project at naval show
TASS News Agency, July 8, 2019 TASS NewsAgency, July 10, 2019
Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry The Nevskoye Design Bureau (part of Peskov said that the Kremlin was regretting Russia’s United Shipbuilding the consequences arising from Iran cutting Corporation) unveiled the newest Project back on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of 11430E ‘Lamantin’ nuclear-powered Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear aircraft carrier. Its mockup was shown on program after the US unilateral withdrawal the design bureau’s display stand at the from the deal. St. Petersburg international maritime defense show. “Regretfully, we are now registering these consequences. The Russian diplomacy will The ‘Lamantin’ aircraft carrier is continue working,” he pledged. “We will designated to provide for the deployment also be expecting the results of the work of and the combat use of an air task force an IAEA commission, which will be that comprises various types of shipborne convened in the coming days.” aircraft capable of employing weapons and armament against air, sea (submarine https://tass.com/politics/1067502 and surface) forces, and also land troops and ground installations of an enemy in Russia ready for ministerial the oceanic, maritime and coastal waters, meeting on Iranian nuclear and also to ensure naval groups’ combat program, says Lavrov sustainability and provide cover for amphibious assault troops and their TASS NewsAgency, July 9, 2019 landing force against strikes and attacks by enemy air-launched weapons,” the Russia is prepared for holding a joint project’s description says. ministerial commission on fulfilling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on https://tass.com/defense/1067933 the Iranian nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian Navy to get nuclear- reporters on Tuesday. powered aircraft carrier Lavrov earlier attended an informal meeting TASS News Agency, July 10, 2019 of foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) The Russian Navy will have a nuclear- member-states in Slovakia’s Vysoke Tatry. powered aircraft carrier in its structure, When asked whether the sides discussed although this will not happen in the there the situation around the Iranian immediate future, Navy Commander-in- nuclear deal, Lavrov noted that this was a Chief Nikolai Yevmenov told reporters at matter for a joint commission of signatories. the St. Petersburg international maritime “The joint commission recently gathered at defense show on Wednesday. the level of political directors and there is a proposal to convene it at the level of “There will be, of course, a nuclear- ministers,” he said. “We will be ready for powered aircraft carrier but not in the this, but if there is an understanding that short-term perspective,” the Navy chief there is the need to put forward particular said. agreements at this meeting. So far, no such https://tass.com/defense/1067923 agreements are on the horizon.”
https://tass.com/politics/1067731 39 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Russian Nuclear Sub Wreck’s State support pivotal to Russia’s Radiation 100K Higher Than nuclear sector, says report Normal, Scientists Say World Nuclear News, July 12, 2019 The Moscow Times, July 10, 2019 Russia’s nuclear power sector “continues Norwegian scientists have discovered to benefit” from supportive government radiation levels 100,000 times higher than policy, in contrast to “tighter restrictions” normal near a Soviet-era nuclear submarine in Western Europe owing to that sank 30 years ago in the Arctic, environmental concerns and growing Norway’s TV2 broadcaster reported competition from renewables, S&P Global Tuesday. Ratings says in a report published yesterday. The Komsomolets sank in a section of the Barents Sea considered to be one of the Russia’s nuclear power industry consists world’s largest fishing areas in 1989, killing of 89 enterprises that are owned by the 42 of its 69 crew. Concerns about state-run joint stock company Atomic contamination from its nuclear reactor have Energy Power Corporation (AEPC), or not yet given way to an actual Atomenergoprom, its Russian name. environmental crisis, and readings taken as recently as 2008 have shown no indication http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/S-P- of a radiation leak. report-on-Russia
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2019/07/10/ Nuclear bonds: Russia supplies russian-nuclear-sub-wrecks-radiation-100k- fuel for China Experimental Fast higher-than-normal-scientists-say-a66341 Reactor US escalates tension around nuclear Russian Times, July 13, 2019 deal to change power in Iran — The first batch of nuclear fuel has been Russian diplomat supplied by a subsidiary of Russia’s state TASS News Agency, July 11, 2019 nuclear corporation Rosatom for the China Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR). The US policy aimed at changing power in Iran is the prime cause of tension around According to a company statement, the the Iranian nuclear deal, Russian Foreign fuel has been supplied under a contract Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova between TVEL (a Rosatom subsidiary), the said on Thursday. China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation, and the China Institute of “It is clear to all that Washington’s policy of Atomic Energy. exerting maximum pressure on Tehran, rooted in anti-Iranian sentiments and the CEFR is used for research purposes, desire to achieve a change of power in the though it also operates within a 20MW sovereign state, is the prime cause of the power unit, supplying electricity to the current tension around the Joint grid. It is classified by the International Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Atomic Energy Agency as the only fast the Russian diplomat stressed. power reactor in the world outside of Russia. https://tass.com/world/1068187 https://www.rt.com/business/464103-russia- china-nuclear-reactor/ 40 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
WEST ASIA or development of nuclear weapons. Ironically this is a result of U.S. decision I. Iran to sanction removal of LEU from Iran,” Zarif says Iran has not violated Ulyanov tweeted on Monday. nuclear deal Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Tehran Times, July 2, 2019 Javad Zarif said on Monday that Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile has passed the Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif 300 kilogram limit under the 2015 nuclear said late on Monday that Iran has not deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive violated the 2015 nuclear deal as the Plan of Action. country’s stockpile of enriched uranium passed 300kg limit, saying Iran was just https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437676/ exercising its right to respond to the U.S. Russian-diplomat-says-Iran-not-after-nuclear- weapons withdrawal and reimposition of sanctions.
His tweeted message was also along with Iran’s decision on uranium paragraph 36 of the JCPOA according to stockpile in accordance with which provides a mechanism to resolve JCPOA: envoy disputes when parties believe other signatories are not fulfilling their obligations. Tehran Times, July 2, 2019
“We have NOT violated the #JCPOA. Tehran’s ambassador to Vienna-based international organizations says Iran was Para 36 of the accord illustrates why: entitled under the 2015 nuclear deal to let the stockpile of its enriched uranium pass We triggered & exhausted para 36 after US 300 kilograms. withdrawal. Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran’s Supreme We gave E3+2 a few weeks while reserving National Security Council has already our right. made it clear that Tehran has referred to the Articles 26 and 36 of the JCPOA to We finally took action after 60 weeks. defend its rights, Tasnim reported.
As soon as E3 abide by their obligations, Gharibabadi’s remarks came hours after we’ll reverse.” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that Iran’s enriched https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437665/Zarif- says-Iran-has-not-violated-nuclear-deal uranium stockpile has passed the 300 kg limit set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan Russian diplomat says Iran not after of Action. nuclear weapons https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437668/ Iran-s-decision-on-uranium-stockpile-in- Tehran Times, July 2, 2019 accordance-with-JCPOA Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Zarif says Iran’s commitment to Mikhail Ulyanov has said that Iran’s act in JCPOA will be commensurate to exceeding stockpiles of enriched uranium Europeans’ does not mean it is seeking to develop nuclear Tehran Times, July 3, 2019 weapons. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif “Iran’s stockpiles of low enriched uranium said on Tuesday that Iran will show exceeded 300 kg. This is a deviation from commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal as voluntary commitment under #JCPOA, but long as Europeans fulfil their has nothing to do with a violation of NPT commitments. 41 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Under the nuclear deal, officially called the after Tehran breached its 2015 nuclear Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, Iran deal with major powers. agreed to put limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for termination of economic Any country on the board can call a and financial sanctions on the country. meeting, and the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in a note to “Iran is committed to the full implementation member states that the meeting would be of the #JCPOA: as long as E3/EU held next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. (1230 implement THEIR economic commitments,” GMT) after the IAEA this week said Iran Zarif twitted. had exceeded the maximum stock of enriched uranium allowed under the deal. Zarif added that Iran’s loyalty to the JCPOA “Today ... US Ambassador to International will be commensurate to those of the Organizations in Vienna Jackie Wolcott Europeans, including the E3 - France, requested a special meeting of the Board Germany and Britain which are signatory to discuss the IAEA Director General’s to the deal - and the rest of the European latest, concerning report on the Iranian Union states. regime’s nuclear program,” the US mission said in a statement, referring to the IAEA’s https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437699/Zarif- report on Monday. “The international says-Iran-s-commitment-to-JCPOA-will-be- community must hold Iran’s regime commensurate-to accountable.”
INSTEX a preliminary step for http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571040/ Europe to implement its World/Mena/UN-nuclear-watchdogs-board-to- commitments: Zarif meet-on-Iran-at-US-request Tehran Times, July 3, 2019 Iran expresses regret over Russia Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad submarine fire Zarif said on Wednesday that INSTEX is a Tehran Times, July 5, 2019 preliminary step for Europe to implement its commitments under the 2015 nuclear Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman deal, officially known as the Joint Seyyed Abbas Mousavi has expressed Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). regret over a lethal fire that broke out on a Russian nuclear-powered submarine, “If INSTEX becomes operational, it will be a killing several crew members.Mousavi preliminary to 11 commitments that offered condolences and sympathy to Europeans should meet,” he told reporters Russia, particularly the bereaved families, on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. over the tragic incident.
He also said Iran will be committed to the At least 14 sailors died in the blaze aboard JCPOA as long as the Europeans will be. the research vessel while carrying out a survey of the seafloor, Russian news https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437702/ agencies quoted the Defense Ministry as INSTEX-a-preliminary-step-for-Europe-to- saying. implement-its-commitments https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437770/ UN nuclear watchdog’s board to Iran-expresses-regret-over-Russia-submarine-fire meet on Iran at US request IAEA to hold special meeting on Saudi Gazette, July 5, 2019 Iran on July 10 The United States has called an emergency Saudi Gazette, July 5, 2019 meeting of the UN atomic watchdog’s 35- nation Board of Governors to discuss Iran, The UN’s nuclear watchdog said Friday it the US mission to the agency said on Friday, will hold a special meeting on Iran’s 42 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
nuclear program next week, days after Iran threatens British shipping in Tehran breached one of the limits set in a retaliation for tanker seizure 2015 deal with world powers. The meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency Saudi Gazette, July 5, 2019 (IAEA)’s board of governors would be held The Federal Authority for Nuclear “on 10 July at 14:30,” an IAEA spokesman Regulation (FANR), the UAE’s nuclear said. regulator, has officially certified Monday Earlier, the US mission in Vienna said in a the first group of 15 UAE National Senior statement that the American Ambassador Reactor Operators (SROs) and Reactor to International Organizations Jackie Operators (ROs) at Nawah Energy Wolcott had requested the special meeting Company, the operations and to discuss the IAEA’s latest report on Iran, maintenance subsidiary of the Emirates issued earlier this week. In it, the IAEA Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). confirmed that Iran had breached the limit The certification is part of complying with of 300kg for stockpiles of enriched uranium FANR’s Regulation 17 ‘Regulation for the as stipulated under the 2015 Joint Certification of Operating Personnel at Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Nuclear Facilities’ that dictates http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571063/World/ requirements for the training and Mena/IAEA-to-hold-special-meeting-on-Iran-on- qualification of Senior Reactor Operators July-10 and Reactor Operators, and ensures their competence to operate the nuclear energy Iran will enrich uranium as much as plant. In addition, the certification of SROs it needs, cleric says and ROs is a key requirement for future receipt of the Operating License. Tehran Times, July 5, 2019 http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/570981/ Tehran Friday prayer leader Ayatollah World/Mena/Iran-threatens-British-shipping- Mohammad-Ali Movahedi Kermani says in-retaliation-for-tanker-seizure Iran will enrich uranium to any level and in any quantity it needs starting from July 7. EU to consult with nuclear deal partners as Iran warns of new “Iran will continue its enrichment. However, our enrichment is not for atomic bomb steps because we neither regard it ethical nor do Tehran Times, July 5, 2019 we need it,” Movahedi Kermani told worshippers in Tehran. The European Union has said it’s in contact with the remaining signatories of President Hassan Rouhani said on the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Wednesday that the Arak heavy water Comprehensive Plan of Action, to discuss nuclear reactor – which was agreed to be Iran’s decision to reduce its commitments redesigned under the JCPOA – will resume under the deal. its previous activities after July 7 if the other signatories to the deal fail to uphold their “We’ve called on Iran to reverse these steps end of the bargain. and to refrain from further measures that would undermine the nuclear https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437759/Iran- agreement,” AP quoted a spokeswoman will-enrich-uranium-as-much-as-it-needs-cleric- for EU foreign policy chief Federica says Mogherini as saying on Thursday. 43 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on The meeting of the IAEA board of Wednesday Tehran will get past a 3.67% governors, which follows an emergency uranium enrichment level set by the nuclear call by the United States, would be held deal on July 7 as a retaliatory measure to “on 10 July at 14:30,” an IAEA spokesman U.S. ditching of the agreement. said.
“We will discard that commitment. We will Ironically, the U.S. has repeatedly ignored go beyond 3.67% as much as we want and IAEA reports certifying that Iran was as much as we need to,” he said during a compliant with the terms of the nuclear cabinet meeting. deal in order to pull out of that deal unilaterally and reimpose sanctions. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437754/EU- to-consult-with-nuclear-deal-partners-as-Iran- https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437814/It- warns-of-new is-a-sad-irony-that-U-S-has-requested-IAEA- meeting-on-Iran Iran ready for higher uranium enrichment: top adviser Iran starts enriching uranium to above 3.67% Tehran Times, July 6, 2019 Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 A top foreign policy adviser to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution says the Islamic As the Europeans missed a two-month Republic is ready for higher uranium deadline to devise a concrete economic and enrichment because Europe has “indirectly financial mechanism to protect Iran from violated” the nuclear deal. the harsh U.S. sanctions, Iran officially announced on Sunday, July 7, that it is Ali Akbar Velayati said in a Friday interview starting to enrich uranium to a higher that Iran may increase the level of its purity than the 3.67%. enriched uranium to at least five percent as of July 7, Mehr reported. The announcement was made in a joint news conference by Deputy Foreign The move would come as part of a decision Minister Abbas Araqchi, government by Tehran to reduce its commitments under spokesman Ali Rabiei, and Atomic Energy the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known as Organization spokesman Behrouz the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Kamalvandi in Tehran. (JCPOA). Iran’s chief demand is that Tehran be According to Velayati, Tehran will raise the permitted to export crude oil at the same 3.67% limit to any level it deems necessary levels before the U.S. reimposed sanctions. for its peaceful activities. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, officially https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437803/Iran- called the JCPOA, Iran had agreed to put ready-for-higher-uranium-enrichment-top-adviser limits on parts of its nuclear activities in exchange for the termination of all It is a ‘sad irony’ that U.S. has economic and financial sanctions. requested IAEA meeting on Iran, diplomat says https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437825/ Iran-starts-enriching-uranium-to-above-3-67 Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 Iran warned after ratcheting up Days after Tehran’s stockpile of the enriched tensions with higher enrichment uranium surpassed the limit allowed in the 2015 nuclear deal, the International Atomic Saudi Gazette, July 7, 2019 Energy Agency said on July 5 it will hold an emergency meeting on Iran’s nuclear Iran announced on Sunday it will shortly program next week. boost its uranium enrichment above a cap 44 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
set by a landmark 2015 nuclear deal, a major Zarif: Iran’s nuclear steps breach likely to draw a tougher reaction from reversible only through E3 President Donald Trump who has pressured compliance Tehran to renegotiate the pact. In a sign of heightening tensions, France, Germany and Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 Britain — all parties to the deal — expressed concerns over Tehran’s decision. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday that Iran’s In a live news conference, senior Iranian steps in reducing its nuclear commitments officials said Tehran would keep reducing are “reversible” only if the three European its commitments every 60 days, unless countries of Britain, France, and Germany European signatories of the pact protect it (E3) honor their commitments under the from US sanctions imposed by President Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Trump. “We are fully prepared to enrich official name for the 2015 nuclear uranium at any level and with any amount,” agreement. said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization. Zarif’s statement came a few hours after Iran officially announced it has started http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571193/World/ enriching uranium to a higher purity than Mena/Iran-warned-after-ratcheting-up-tensions- the current 3.67%, as the Europeans with-higher-enrichment missed a 60-day deadline by Tehran to devise a concrete mechanism to protect the Macron, Rouhani discuss ways to country from the U.S. sanctions. save nuclear deal https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437849/ Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 Zarif-Iran-s-nuclear-steps-reversible-only- through-E3-compliance French President Emmanuel Macron telephoned his Iranian counterpart on MP: Iran needs 90% uranium for Saturday to explore ways to save the 2015 maritime propellers nuclear deal. Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 The telephone conversation took place one day before Iran officially announced that it A senior MP, Mojtaba Zonnur, has said will start enriching uranium to a purity level that Iran needs to have 90% uranium to above the current 3.67 percent from July 7. set maritime propellers working. The measure followed a 60-day deadline to Europe to protect Iran from the U.S. President Hassan Rouhani in November sanctions. 2016 ordered the development of a nuclear-propulsion system for vessels, Rouhani told the French leader that if all describing the move as a retaliatory U.S. sanctions are ended it could open the response to an extension of sanctions by way for negotiations on the 2015 nuclear the U.S. Congress for another ten years. deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Rouhani also requested a study of fuel production for the propulsion system and https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437828/ set a three-month deadline for a progress Macron-Rouhani-discuss-ways-to-save-nuclear- report on both steps. Iran said back then deal that the sanctions renewal breached an international nuclear deal finalized between the country and six world powers, including the U.S., a year earlier.
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437857/ MP-Iran-needs-90-uranium-for-maritime- propellers 45 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Iran nuke deal violation condemned powers by ramping up the level of uranium enrichment to over 3.67 percent. Saudi, Gazette, July 7, 2019 The formal announcement was made at a French President Emmanuel Macron press conference in the president’s office condemned on Sunday the Iranian decision in Tehran. to enrich uranium above limits agreed upon in 2015, a move he qualified of “violation” https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437854/ of the agreement, an official of the UN-nuclear-inspectors-will-report-back-on- presidency told Reuters. Iran-s-enrichment-move
The French president reiterated the deadline Iran’s second step in reducing of July 15 to resume dialogue between the nuclear commitments does not parties, the official said, without elaborating on what would happen after that date. mean quitting JCPOA: MP Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 A French government source said the French government will not trigger the Iran nuclear Deputy Chairman of the Parliament’s deal’s dispute resolution mechanism for National Security and Foreign Policy now, instead giving itself one week to try to Committee Kamal Dehghani has said that get all parties talking again after Iran decided Iran’s second step in reducing its to enrich uranium above limits agreed in commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal, 2015. “It’s not an option at this moment,” a the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, source at President Emmanuel Macron’s does not mean quitting the agreement. Elysee office said on Sunday. The dispute resolution mechanism could eventually lead Iran’s first step was to remove ban on its to the reimposition of United Nations stockpile of nuclear fuel. Under the sanctions on Iran. agreement Iran was permitted to keep 300 kilograms of uranium. http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571235/World/ Mena/Iran-nuke-deal-violation-condemned “The international community is well aware that the Islamic Republic of Iran has UN nuclear inspectors will report abided by its commitments so far, an issue back on Iran’s enrichment move which has been confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency. So, Tehran Times, July 7, 2019 according to international law, Iran has fulfilled its obligations and it is other sides’ Inspectors from the International Atomic turn to fulfil their commitments,” he told Energy Agency (IAEA), who are in Iran, will ISNA in an interview published on report back once they have checked the level Sunday. of Tehran’s enrichment level, the agency said on Sunday. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437859/ Iran-s-second-step-in-reducing-nuclear- “We are aware of Iran’s announcement commitments-does-not-mean related to its uranium enrichment level,” a spokesman for the agency said, according Iranians despair over nuclear deal to Reuters. confrontation “IAEA inspectors in Iran will report to our Saudi Gazette, July 8, 2019 headquarters as soon as they verify the announced development,” it added. Iran’s decision to further challenge the United States by boosting its uranium The IAEA announcement came after Iran enrichment beyond limits in its 2015 on Sunday declared a second step in nuclear deal has deepened fears among reduction of its commitments under the 2015 Iranians that their country will remain in nuclear deal between Tehran and world crisis mode over the long term. 46 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
The United States’ exit from the pact last The Iran Crisis: How the Nuclear year, under President Donald’s Trump’s Deal Started to Unravel, and campaign to squeeze Iran with sanctions, What’s Next has so far failed to force its clerical rulers to renegotiate. Iran confirmed on Monday it David D. Kirkpatrick had enriched uranium to a purity beyond that allowed by the pact. Trump, who The New York Times, July 8, 2019 ordered air strikes last month only to cancel The International Atomic Energy them minutes before impact, has warned Agency confirmed Monday that Iran had Iran’s leaders ‘to be careful’. Since May, he resumed enriching uranium to higher has tightened sanctions with the aim of levels than permitted under a 2015 accord halting Iran’s oil exports entirely, depriving with the United States and other world it of its main source of revenue. powers. The step inches Tehran closer to “Yes, life is difficult because of the sanctions. having the capacity to build a nuclear Yes, I think this (nuclear) program is too bomb. costly for Iranian people,” said Firouzeh, 43, President Trump’s administration has a housewife in the city of Babolsar, reached vowed to prevent Iran from developing by telephone. Prices for basic goods have such weapons. skyrocketed in Iran and a young population longs for jobs. In April, the International https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/08/world/ Monetary Fund (IMF) said Iran’s economy europe/iran-trump.html was expected to shrink for the second consecutive year and inflation could reach Iran says will not breach JCPOA 40 percent. unless ‘bizarre actions’ are taken http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571303/World/ Tehran Times, July 8, 2019 Mena/Iranians-despair-over-nuclear-deal-confron- tation Iran will not take any measure against the 2015 nuclear agreement unless the other Iran’s uranium enrichment degree parties to the deal take peculiar, reaches 4.5 percent unexpected actions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Tehran Times, July 8, 2019 Monday.
On Monday, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the “Iran’s next step is also under the legal spokesman for the Atomic Energy framework and under the paragraphs 26 Organization of Iran (AEOI), told ISNA that and 36 of the JCPOA, unless certain Iran’s degree of uranium enrichment has countries in the meantime take peculiar, reached 4.5 percent which he said is enough unexpected measures, after which the to power nuclear plants. third step would not be taken and we’ll take a fundamental step instead,” Mousavi Increasing the level of enrichment to above said during a press conference in Tehran. 3.67 percent was taken on Sunday after Europe missed a 60-day deadline by Tehran Iran officially announced on Sunday, July to devise a concrete mechanism to guard 7, that it is starting to enrich uranium to a Iran against U.S. sanctions. higher purity than the 3.67%, as the Europeans missed a two-month deadline On Sunday, Iran also gave Europeans to devise a concrete economic and another 60-day time to protect the country financial mechanism to protect Iran from from sanctions otherwise it will take the the harsh U.S. sanctions. next step. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437886/ https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437887/Iran- Iran-says-will-not-breach-JCPOA-unless- s-uranium-enrichment-degree-reaches-4-5-percent bizarre-actions-are 47 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Russia to continue trade with Iran http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571459/ regardless of U.S. sanctions World/Mena/Iran-Guards-commander-says-US- bases-are-in-range-of-its-missiles Tehran Times, July 9, 2019 Government: Iran’s commitment Russian Permanent Representative to the to JCPOA will match Europeans’ European Union Vladimir Chizhov has said that Russia will ignore the U.S. sanctions Tehran Times, July 9, 2019 against Iran and will continue trade with the country without creating any special Ali Rabiei, the government spokesman, mechanisms. said on Tuesday that Iran’s commitment to the 2015 nuclear deal, officially known “Our colleagues here [in Brussels] sometimes as the JCPOA, will be commensurate to ask why Russia and China do not create the Europeans’ commitment to the their own INSTEX [Instrument in Support agreement. of Trade Exchanges]. To that we answer with the question: why do we need it? We have “We will abide by the deal as long as already traded and will trade without Europeans abide to it, and in proportion paying any attention to U.S. sanctions,” to their commitment,” he said during a Sputnik quoted him as saying on Tuesday. speech in ceremony marking International Day of Cooperatives. The day before, the Finnish government said that it was considering joining a trading He noted that all Iran’s actions regarding system that core EU members set up to the JCPOA are line with efforts to save the bypass U.S. sanctions on Iran. deal.
https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437946/ Under the JCPOA, Iran had agreed to put Russia-to-continue-trade-with-Iran-regardless-of- limits on parts of its nuclear activities in U-S-sanctions exchange for the termination of all economic and financial sanctions. Iran Guards commander says US However, U.S. President Donald Trump bases are in range of its missiles withdrew Washington from the nuclear deal in May 2018 and ordered sanctions Saudi Gazette, July 9, 2019 on Tehran. Trump has even introduced full ban on Iran’s oil export, a move which commander in Iran’s elite Revolutionary has been described as an economic war Guards said on Tuesday that US regional against Tehran. bases and its aircraft carriers in the Gulf are within the range of Iranian missiles, the https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437945/ Tasnim news agency reported, amid Government-Iran-s-commitment-to-JCPOA- heightened tension between Tehran and will-match-Europeans Washington. “American bases are within the range of our missiles ... Our missiles will Zarif: ‘U.S. has no standing to raise destroy their aircraft carriers if they make a JCPOA issues’ mistake,” said Hossein Nejat. “Americans are very well aware of the consequences of Tehran Times, July 10, 2019 a military confrontation with Iran.” The IAEA board of governors met on The tension between longtime foes Iran and Wednesday at the request of the United the United States has sharply increased in States as Iran is reducing its commitments recent weeks, a year after Washington exited in response to the U.S. abrogation of the the 2015 deal between Iran and world nuclear deal (JCPOA) and the return of powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear program sanctions. Iranian Foreign Minister in exchange for the lifting of international Mohammad Javad Zarif said the U.S. is financial sanctions not in a position to talk about the JCPOA. 48 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
”The U.S. has no standing to raise JCPOA emergency meeting of the UN atomic issues,” Zarif tweeted. watchdog on Iran’s nuclear actions is a “farcical story”. The Trump administration killed the JCPOA in May 2018 and has imposed the toughest “They called for an emergency meeting of ever sanctions on Iran. Trump has used the the Board of Governors to discuss why worst language against the JCPOA. Iran has abandoned some of its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA which is https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438006/Zarif- a farcical story and unprecedented in the U-S-has-no-standing-to-raise-JCPOA-issues world’s political history,” he said during a cabinet meeting. Russian diplomat urges Europe to save nuclear deal Iran announced on Sunday that it has started enriching uranium to a higher Tehran Times, July 10, 2019 purity than the 3.67%, as the Europeans missed a 60-day deadline by Tehran to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey devise a concrete mechanism to protect the Ryabkov on Tuesday urged Europe to save country from the U.S. sanctions. the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437967/ (JCPOA). Rouhani-says-U-S-call-for-UN-nuclear- watchdog-meeting-is-farcical “The Russian side confirmed that it is necessary to bolster joint efforts of all Timeline: Iran’s recent clashes participants in the JCPOA, including Iran and the EU trio countries in favor of saving with the West over Gulf shipping, the agreements and ensuring their full nuclear plans implementation on the basis of abidance by Reuters, July 11, 2019 their commitments by all the involved parties and with due regard for the principle Tensions between Iran and the West have of reciprocity on which the Plan of Action escalated since U.S. sanctions on Iranian was based initially,” Ryabkov said in a oil exports took full effect in May and meeting with British Ambassador to Russia British naval forces seized an Iranian Laurie Bristow, French Ambassador Sylvie supertanker. Bermann and Charge d’Affaires ad Interim of the German Embassy in Russia Beate Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Crzeski. Hormuz, December 21, 2018. REUTERS/ Hamad I Mohammed/Files According to TASS, Ryabkov said, “It was noted that the main challenges preventing Below is a timeline of recent incidents: an efficient implementation of the JCPOA are systemic violations and subversive May 2 - The United States, which actions from the U.S.” withdrew from an international nuclear accord between Iran and global powers https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/437987/ in 2018, ends waivers that had allowed Russian-diplomat-urges-Europe-to-save-nuclear- some mainly Asian importers to continue deal buying Iranian crude
Rouhani says U.S. call for UN May 5 - The United States says it is nuclear watchdog meeting is deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and bombers to the Middle East, citing ‘farcical’ threats from Iran Tehran Times, July 10, 2019 May 8 - Iran announces it will relax some Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on curbs on its nuclear programme, stopping Wednesday that the U.S. call for an short of violating its 2015 deal with world 49 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
powers but threatening more action if withdrew from the nuclear pact with countries do not shield it from U.S. sanctions world powers in May 2018.
May 10 - The U.S. Maritime Administration “We have always believed in talks ... if they lift warns of possible Iranian attacks on sanctions, end the imposed economic pressure shipping in the Gulf and return to the deal, we are ready to hold https://in.reuters.com/article/mideast-iran-britain- talks with America today, right now and timeline/timeline-irans-recent-clashes-with-the- anywhere,” Rouhani said in his Sunday speech. west-over-gulf-shipping-nuclear-plans- idINKCN1U60SO https://in.reuters.com/article/iran-nuclear-usa/ iran-ready-to-talk-if-u-s-lifts-sanctions-pompeo- Iran, Russia say US ‘was isolated’ at skeptical-idINKCN1U90DS IAEA’s special meeting Tehran Times, July 11, 2019 U.S. ‘holding off’ sanctions on FM Zarif: sources Tehran says the UN nuclear watchdog’s special meeting held at Washington’s request Tehran Times, July 12, 2019 to win the Board of Governors’ support for The U.S. has decided to put off imposing its anti-Iran claims turned into another sanctions on Iranian Foreign Minister failure for Americans. “Another failure for Mohammad Javad Zarif for now, Reuters the US at the mockery of the IAEA’s Board quoted two unnamed sources as saying on of Governors,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Thursday. Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi tweeted on Wednesday in reference to an emergency Last month, U.S. Treasury Secretary meeting of the 35-member Board of Steven Mnuchin announced that Zarif Governors of the International Atomic would be blacklisted as part of the U.S. Energy Agency (IAEA) to discuss Iran’s policy to put “maximum pressure” on Iran nuclear program, which wrapped up with and its top officials. no conclusion earlier in the day in Vienna. Blacklisting Iran’s chief diplomat would https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438007/Iran- be in stark contrast with Washington’s Russia-say-US-was-isolated-at-IAEA-s-special- repeated calls for dialogue with Tehran meeting amid heightened tensions.
Iran ready to talk if U.S. lifts “Cooler heads prevailed. We ... saw it as sanctions, Pompeo skeptical not necessarily helpful,” said one source familiar with the matter who spoke on Parisa Hafezi, Bate Felix condition of anonymity, adding U.S. Reuters, July 12, 2019 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had opposed designating Zarif “for the time Iran is ready to hold talks with the United being.” States if Washington lifts sanctions and returns to the 2015 nuclear deal it quit last https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438037/U- year, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said S-holding-off-sanctions-on-FM-Zarif-sources in a televised speech on Sunday. Authorities unanimous on Iran’s U.S. President Donald Trump’s JCPOA move: cleric administration has said it is open to negotiations with Iran on a more far- Tehran Times, July 12, 2019 reaching agreement on nuclear and security Hojjatoleslam Kazem Seddiqi, the interim issues. But Iran has made any talks Friday prayer leader of Tehran, says conditional on first being able to export as authorities unanimously agree on much oil as it did before the United States 50 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
reducing Iran’s commitments to the 2015 Zarif discusses JCPOA, ties with nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Norwegian counterpart Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The Tehran Times, July 14, 2019 “The two-month deadline has ended, and today, by the grace of God, all authorities Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif are unanimous on reduction of had a phone conversation with his commitments,” Kazem Seddiqi told Norwegian counterpart Marie Eriksen worshippers in Tehran on Friday. Soreide on Sunday to discuss mutual ties, JCPOA related issues and regional He described the JCPOA as a fruitless deal developments. and criticized Europeans for being obedient to the U.S. in revoking the JCPOA and The phone conversation was made during imposed sanctions on Iran. Zarif’s stopover in the Scandinavian nation en route to New York to take part “After a year (since the U.S. withdrawal in the annual meeting of the high-ranking from the JCPOA), not only the Europeans officials of the United Nations Economic have failed to fulfill their obligations but also and Social Council, ISNA reported. they have in practice become obedient to the U.S.,” he remarked. Zarif left Tehran for New York on Saturday. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438038/ Authorities-unanimous-on-Iran-s-JCPOA-move- After the UN meeting, the top Iranian cleric diplomat will leave the U.S. for Venezuela to attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Iran will not crack under U.S. Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned pressure: National Interest Movement (NAM). The Tehran Times, July 14, 2019 https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438109/ Zarif-discusses-JCPOA-ties-with-Norwegian- In an article published by The National counterpart Interest on Saturday, it is said that Iran will “not crack” under the U.S. economic The U.S. and the JCPOA: Carrot- pressure. and-stick diplomacy without the “Will Iran crack under American pressure? carrot Don’t count on it. Iran has grown Yuram Abdullah Weiler accustomed to living under America’s recent economic sanctions and continues to pursue The Tehran Times, July 14, 2019 its own policies at home and abroad despite the restrictions associated with the latest Led by an unprincipled president who has U.S.-Iranian crisis,” says the article. shown himself to be an arrogant abrogator of agreements, a duplicitous demolisher of The article added that Tehran can rely on deals, and a tyrannical trasher of treaties, substantial domestic support and has a large the United States appears well on its way army. U.S. President Donald Trump towards setting a new world record in withdrew Washington in May 2018 from the behavior as a rogue state. After first multilateral nuclear accord, officially known violating the terms of the so-called Iran as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive (JCPOA), which was reached between Iran Plan of Action (JCPOA), withdrawing and six world powers in 2015. from it, forcing other nations to eschew their obligations under it, and lately https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438133/Iran- resorting to acts of sabotage and piracy on will-not-crack-under-U-S-pressure-National- the high seas, the Washington regime Interest remains unrepentant and undeterred in its criminal actions. 51 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
The U.S. has long been committing Rouhani says U.S. has been left diplomatic injustices. The rate merely alone in quitting nuclear deal intensified after the demise of the Soviet Union, which had acted as a formidable The Tehran Times, July 15, 2019 restraining force on the imperialistic Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on imaginations of the predatory politicos on Sunday that the U.S. has been left alone the Potomac, who are addicted to ousting in quitting the 2015 nuclear deal, officially any legitimate government they find not to known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan their liking. In recent times, Albania (1991), of Action. Yugoslavia (1999-2000), Ecuador (2000), Afghanistan (2001), Venezuela (2002), Iraq “Only a fake regime and one or two small (2003), Haiti (2004), Honduras (2009), Libya countries supported the U.S. However, the (2011) and Ukraine (2014) have all had their whole world stood against the U.S. and sovereignty breached and legitimate its bullying and praised our strategic governments toppled by the Washington patience against the U.S., which was a regime, while Iraq (1991), Somalia (1993, difficult thing to do,” he said at a session 2007 to present) and Syria (2012 - present) of the Administrative Council of North have suffered attempted coups d’état. The Khorasan. U.S. was likely behind the attempt in Turkey in 2016, too. However, he said that there is a limit to Iran’s patience. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438103/The- U-S-and-the-JCPOA-Carrot-and-stick-diplo- On May 8, Iran announced a partial macy-without-the withdrawal from some aspects of the nuclear pact, saying that the country E3 reaffirm commitment to Iran would no longer adhere to some of the deal limits on its nuclear activities. It also threatened to step up uranium enrichment World Nuclear News, July 15, 2019 if an agreement is not made within 60 France, Germany, and the UK - together days to protect it from the sanctions’ known as the E3, as the three founding effects. members of the European Union - issued a https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438181/ joint statement yesterday reaffirming their Rouhani-says-U-S-has-been-left-alone-in- commitment to the Joint Comprehensive quitting-nuclear-deal Plan of Action (JCPOA). But they said they were “deeply troubled” by recent events in Academic’s arrest hits effort to the Gulf and “concerned” over US-Iran relations. save Iran nuclear deal Victor Mallet, Alex Barker and Monavar According to the International Atomic Khalaj Energy Agency’s latest verification and monitoring report on Iran, which it made Financial Times, July 15, 2019 public last week, Iran has been enriching UF6 above the 3.67% U-235 limit stipulated The arrest of a French-Iranian academic in the JCPOA at its Fuel Enrichment Plant has thrown a new obstacle in the path of at Natanz. European diplomats trying to salvage the Iran nuclear deal and defuse tensions in http://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/E3- the Gulf. France’s foreign ministry said on reaffirm-commitment-to-Iran-deal Monday that Fariba Adelkhah, an international affairs expert with Sciences Po university in Paris, had been detained 52 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
in Iran at the start of June and that France “Together with all the member states and was seeking answers from Tehran about her our international partners, how we case. preserve the nuclear deal with Iran and put in place all the measures so that Iran https://www.ft.com/content/642c5ff8-a711-11e9- can go back to full compliance, as it has b6ee-3cdf3174eb89 been until a few weeks… days ago,” Express quoted Mogherini as saying prior ‘Iran says expects practical and to the meeting. effective steps by European partners to save JCPOA’ France, Germany, and the UK, the three parties to the JCPOA, issued a statement The Tehran Times, July 15, 2019 on Sunday reiterating their support for the deal. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Monday that Iran expects European https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438173/ partners to the 2015 nuclear deal, known European-chief-diplomats-insist-on-the-need-to- as the JCPOA, to take practical actions to save-nuclear-deal implement the deal. Reducing commitments intended “Iran expects the European partners to the to give diplomacy a chance, JCPOA to take practical decision and actions which are effective and responsible in the Iranian nuclear spokesman says procedure of implementing the JCPOA,” he The Tehran Times, July 15, 2019 stated. Behrooz Kamalvandi, spokesman for the His comments came as France, Germany, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the UK issued a statement on Sunday, (AEOI), said on Monday that Tehran’s expressing their support for the deal. decision to reduce its commitments to the 2015 nuclear pact was not made out of “We, the leaders of France, Germany and stubbornness, rather it aims to give a the United Kingdom, sharing common chance to diplomacy. security interests, in particular upholding the non-proliferation regime, recall our Kamalvandi said the move was aimed to continuing commitment to the Joint awaken the other parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was agreed upon four years ago with Iran, to honor their obligations, IRNA reported. on 14 July 2015,” reads the statement. Under the nuclear accord, Iran was tasked https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438175/Iran- to put limits on its nuclear activities in says-expects-practical-and-effective-steps-by- exchange for termination of economic and European financial sanctions.
European chief diplomats insist on “What Iran gave up was much more than the need to save nuclear deal what it received, because the other side, particularly after the U.S. exit from the The Tehran Times, July 15, 2019 deal, forgot their obligations,” he lamented. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and a number of https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438164/ European foreign ministers have said they Reducing-commitments-intended-to-give- seek to discuss how to save the 2015 nuclear diplomacy-a-chance-Iranian deal, known as the JCPOA.
The chief diplomats made the remarks prior their meeting in Brussels on Monday. 53 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
J. Saudi Arabia Partnership for Global Security, a Washington DC-based think tank, and the Nuclear harm: Riyadh General Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), which Court to look into compensation represents the US nuclear energy industry. suits It is a publicly available assessment of the non-proliferation, security, and Saudi Gazette, July 5, 2019 geopolitical characteristics of advanced Pertinent authorities in Saudi Arabia have nuclear-reactor technology. referred to the General Court in Riyadh all http://www.arabnews.com/node/1525176/ applications for compensation under civil middle-east responsibility for harms caused by damage from nuclear installations in the country. KSA takes a firm stand against The decision came in line with the regulation Iran’s nuclear program that called for referring all such applications to a court, but without specifically naming Saudi Gazette, July 11, 2019 any court. Saudi Arabia has called on the According to the regulation, harms from international community to take a firm nuclear facilities that come under civil stand against Iran’s nuclear program, responsibility include death or injury, loss stressing the importance of stopping the or damage to property, economic losses, Islamic Republic’s transgressions and costs of restoring damaged environment to breaches of international agreements and normal state, economic installations treaties related to its nuclear program. The incurring a loss of income resulting from Kingdom’s strongly worded statement severe damage to the environment, costs of came at a special session of the preventive measures, and any loss or harm International Atomic Energy Agency caused by these measures. The operators of (IAEA) Board of Governors meet held in the nuclear facilities and those who Vienna following the two reports of IAEA transport radioactive materials will pay the Director General Yukiya Amano. compensation in line with the decision of the court. Amano had tabled his reports on “Verification and Monitoring in Iran in http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571056/ light of UN Security Council Resolution SAUDI-ARABIA/Nuclear-harm-Riyadh-General- 2231 (2015),” which noted that Iran Court-to-look-into-compensation-suits exceeded the proportion and quantity of enriched uranium specified in the joint Advanced nuclear reactors hold comprehensive action plan. In its speech, promise of clean energy for Gulf the Saudi permanent delegation noted the countries Saudi position on the nuclear agreement with Iran in 2015 in which the Kingdom Arab News, July 14, 2019 expressed the importance of a comprehensive international agreement Saudi Arabia will be one of a handful of on Iran’s nuclear program that would countries expected to receive state-of-the-art prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons advanced nuclear reactors from China and in any way. Russia, according to a new report. http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571584/ The report, “Advancing Nuclear SAUDI-ARABIA/KSA-takes-a-firm-stand- Innovation: Responding to Climate Change against-Irans-nuclear-program and Strengthening Global Security,” was commissioned by the Global Nexus Initiative. This is a project established by the 54 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
K. UAE L. Turkey UAE national nuclear reactor Turkey’s Erdogan: Russian missile operators defense system to arrive in 10 days: Saudi Gazette, Jul 8, 2019 media Tuvan Gumrukcu The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE’s nuclear Reuters, July 1, 2019 regulator, has officially certified Monday the first group of 15 UAE National Senior Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan said Reactor Operators (SROs) and Reactor Russian S-400 defenses would begin Operators (ROs) at Nawah Energy arriving within 10 days, Turkish media Company, the operations and maintenance reported, setting the clock ticking on subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy possible U.S. sanctions after his warm Corporation (ENEC). meeting with President Donald Trump on Saturday.Hard-hit Turkish financial assets The certification is part of complying with jumped on Monday after a weekend in FANR’s Regulation 17 ‘Regulation for the which Erdogan said Trump had told him Certification of Operating Personnel at at a G20 summit there would be no U.S. Nuclear Facilities’ that dictates requirements sanctions, and the U.S. leader said Turkey for the training and qualification of Senior had been treated unfairly over the missiles Reactor Operators and Reactor Operators, deal. Turkey and the United States, NATO and ensures their competence to operate the allies, have been at odds over Ankara’s nuclear energy plant. In addition, the decision to purchase the S-400s, with certification of SROs and ROs is a key Washington warning of U.S. sanctions if requirement for future receipt of the the delivery took place. Operating License. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-usa- http://saudigazette.com.sa/article/571321/BUSI- defense/turkeys-erdogan-russian-missile-defense- NESS/UAE-national-nuclear-reactor-operators system-to-arrive-in-10-days-media- idUSKCN1TV0ZS First Barakah operators receive regulatory certification Despite Turkey’s assurances, U.S. still eyes sanctions, F-35 exit World Nuclear News, July 8, 2019 Phil Stewart, Humeyra Pamuk The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) Reuters, July 3, 2019 has officially certified Nawah Energy’s first group of operators for the Barakah nuclear The Trump administration still plans to power plant. Certification of operators is a impose sanctions on Turkey and remove key requirement for the issue of the plant’s it from a critical fighter jet program if the operating licence. NATO ally acquires Russian air defenses, U.S. officials told Reuters, despite the Certification of the 15 senior reactor Turkish president’s assurances to the operators and reactor operators, ensuring contrary. their competence to operate the nuclear plant, was described by FANR Director After meeting U.S. President Donald General Christer Viktorsson as a “major Trump over the weekend in Japan, milestone” for the UAE nuclear energy Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said programme. Ankara would be spared damaging U.S. sanctions once Russia’s S-400 air defense https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ system starts arriving in Turkey in coming First-Barakah-operators-receive-regulatory-certifi days. Trump appeared sympathetic to Erdogan at the talks and reluctant to 55 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
publicly commit to sanctions — despite being Ankara sees the system as a strategic repeatedly asked by reporters. But U.S. defense requirement as it faces security government officials told Reuters that, at threats from its southern borders with least so far, the administration intends to Syria and Iraq. It says that when it made impose sanctions on Turkey and pull it from the S-400 deal with Russia, the United the F-35 fighter jet program if it takes delivery States and Europe had not presented a of the Russian S-400 system, as expected. viable alternative. Turkey has said the Russian system met its expectations in https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-turkey- terms of price and technology and it hopes defense/despite-turkeys-assurances-u-s-still-eyes- to cooperate with Russia in the sanctions-f-35-exit-idUSKCN1TY0HY development of the next generation S-500 missile systems, benefiting from Turkey begins receiving Russian technology transfer and co-production. missiles in challenge to U.S. and NATO According to Ankara, the S-400s do not pose a direct threat to the U.S. military. It Sarah Dadouch, Idrees Ali has proposed setting up a technical working group that could include NATO, Reuters, July 12, 2019 to address U.S. concerns about the Turkey began taking delivery of an potential impact of the system on U.S. F- advanced Russian missile defense system on 35 jets. This proposal has so far been left Friday, a move expected to trigger U.S. unanswered, Turkey says. sanctions against a NATO ally and drive a https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey- wedge into the heart of the Western military security-explainer/explainer-what-is-at-stake- alliance. The first parts of the S-400 air with-turkeys-russian-air-defense-deal- defense system were flown to the Murted idUSKCN1U71OE military air base northwest of Ankara, the Turkish Defence Ministry said, sealing Erdogan says Trump can waive Turkey’s deal with Russia which sanctions on Turkey for Russian Washington had struggled for months to defense purchase prevent. Reaction from Washington, which has threatened to impose sanctions on Reuters, July 14, 2019 Turkey, was limited, with acting Defence Secretary Mark Esper saying the U.S. U.S. President Donald Trump has the position has not changed. authority to waive sanctions on Turkey for its purchase of Russian air defense systems https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey- and should find a “middle ground” in the security-erdogan/erdogan-says-trump-can-waive- dispute, President Tayyip Erdogan said on sanctions-on-turkey-for-russian-defense-purchase- Sunday. idUSKCN1U90FI Erdogan’s comments came two days after Explainer: What is at stake with NATO member Turkey took delivery of the Turkey’s Russian air defense deal? first consignment of advanced Russian S- 400 missile defense system parts, despite Reuters, July 12, 2019 warnings from Washington that the move would trigger U.S. sanctions. Broadcaster Turkey took its first deliveries of the Russian Haberturk quoted Erdogan as telling S-400 air defense system on Friday, a Turkish journalists that Trump “has the development likely to trigger U.S. sanctions authority to waive or postpone CAATSA”, on Ankara and escalate tensions between referring to U.S. sanctions designed to Turkey and its Western partners in the prevent countries buying military NATO military alliance. equipment from Russia. “Since this is the Why does Turkey need the Russian defense case, it is Trump who needs to find the system? 56 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
middle ground,” Erdogan said, according to Tashkent, also known as Vouno, some 20 Haberturk. kms (12 miles) northeast of Nicosia, with the impact starting a fire and heard for https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey- miles around. security-erdogan/erdogan-says-trump-can-waive- sanctions-on-turkey-for-russian-defense-purchase- https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cyprus- idUSKCN1U90FI crash/errant-missile-from-syria-israel-clash- lands-on-cyprus-idUSKCN1TW15V Turkey’s Erdogan says Russian S-400s will be fully deployed by April 2020 Israel says EU’s response on Iran recalls Nazi appeasement Sarah Dadouch Reuters, July 16, 2019 Reuters, July 16, 2019 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Netanyahu condemned a European Monday that the Russian S-400 missile Union response on Monday to Iran’s defence system, parts of which have been breaches of nuclear limitations, saying it delivered to Turkey over the past four days, recalled failed diplomacy with Nazi would be fully deployed in April 2020. Germany ahead of World War Two. “(It) Turkey’s purchase of the Russian system has reminds me of the European appeasement raised tensions with its NATO allies, of the 1930s,” Netanyahu said in a video particularly the United States, which has statement after EU foreign policy chief warned Turkey that it will respond with Federica Mogherini said none of the parties sanctions. to a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran saw its increased uranium enrichment as Speaking at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport on “significant non-compliance”. the third anniversary of 2016’s attempted coup, Erdogan said eight planes had already “Then, too, there were those who stuck brought parts of the Russian system and their head in the sand and did not see the more were coming, as he had repeatedly approaching danger,” said Netanyahu, promised. “With God’s permission, they will who has often cast Iran’s nuclear projects have been installed in their sites by April as a mortal menace to Israel and the wider 2020,” he told the crowd. world. Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb. “It seems there are those in Europe who https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey- will not wake up until Iranian nuclear security/turkeys-erdogan-says-russian-s-400s- missiles land on European soil. But then it will-be-fully-deployed-by-april-2020- will be too late, of course,” Netanyahu idUSKCN1UA25X said.
M. Israel https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast- iran-eu-israel/israel-says-eus-response-on-iran- Errant missile from Syria-Israel clash recalls-nazi-appeasement-idUSKCN1UA1W6 lands on Cyprus EAST ASIA Michele Kambas, Daren Butler N. Japan Reuters, July 1, 2019 Japanese entities to buy stake in An errant missile struck Cyprus early on major Russian LNG project Monday, skimming the densely populated capital Nicosia and crashing on a The Asahi Shimbun, July 2, 2019 mountainside in what authorities described as a spillover from strikes between Israel and Two Japanese organizations will invest up Syria. The explosion occurred around 1 a.m. to 400 billion yen ($3.7 billion) in a Russian (2200 GMT Sunday) in the region of liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Arctic Circle, which could boost Japan’s 57 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
energy sources and also help bilateral Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the relations with Russia. Major trading house Philippines. Mitsui & Co. and the government-affiliated Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ (JOGMEC) will buy a stake in the Arctic LNG AJ201907030058.html 2 project. The project is planned around the Yamal Peninsula in the Russian Arctic Circle 2011 Fukushima nuke disaster by major Russian LNG developer Novatek. cesium takes shortcut back to Production is scheduled to start in 2023 and Japan’s waters 19.8 million tons of LNG are expected to be produced annually. Mainichi Japan, July 8, 2019
In addition, Japanese companies that Radioactive cesium released into the Pacific Ocean due to the March 2011 purchase LNG buy it mainly based on long- meltdowns at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear term contracts. When the contracts expire, Power Station is returning to Japanese the sellers have to set forth conditions that shores via a shorter route than expected, are acceptable to purchasers. Electric power according to a joint research initiative.The companies are the biggest purchasers. findings were revealed by a team from the However, if they can resume operations of University of Tsukuba, the Japan Agency their nuclear power plants, they will be for Marine-Earth Science and Technology hesitant to be locked into long-term contracts (JAMSTEC) and Kanazawa University. to purchase LNG. Until now, it was thought that cesium http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ from the Tokyo Electric Power Co. AJ201907020057.html (TEPCO)-operated plant would be circulated around the Pacific by Warship shows Japan’s plan to subtropical gyre currents for several expand military role decades before returning to Japanese waters. But in 2012, a year after the The Asahi Shimbun, July 3, 2019 reactor core meltdowns, tests on seawater samples collected by the team showed One of Japan’s largest warships, the increased cesium concentrations in East helicopter carrier Izumo, offers a glimpse of China Sea waters off Japan. Researchers where its Self-Defense Forces are headed: say that the concentrations observed are For the first time, troops from a newly too low to impact sea life formed amphibious brigade participated in an extended naval deployment. The Izumo https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190708/ left Subic, a former U.S. naval base in the p2a/00m/0na/015000c Philippines, at the end of a two-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region at a Japan urges Iran to keep to nuclear time of prolonged tensions involving China’s deal after Tehran admits to sweeping territorial claims in and around breaching enrichment limit the South China Sea. The carrier, along with the destroyers Murasame and Akebono, just Japan Times, July 8, 2019 finished a series of drills with the United States and other countries. Japan on Monday urged Iran to follow its commitments under a 2015 nuclear In May, Japan conducted its first agreement with major powers and refrain quadrilateral exercise with France, the from taking further actions to undermine United States and Australia in the Bay of it, after Tehran said it had started enriching Bengal. France deployed its flagship nuclear- uranium above the limit set by the deal. powered aircraft carrier, the FS Charles de Gaulle, while the United States sent a missile https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/07/08/ national/japan-urges-iran-keep-nuclear-deal- destroyer, the William P. Lawrence. Other tehran-admits-breaching-enrichment-limit/ drills have included Canada, India, #.XTAjXFQza00 58 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Japan says it won’t discuss or retract officials on July 10 said Washington has SKorea export rules not sounded out Tokyo on the proposal made by Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Mari Yamaguchi And Kim Tong-hyung U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, on July 9. However, there is a high possibility that AP News, July 10, 2019 the United States will ask Japan to take Japan said Tuesday it does not plan to retract part in the military coalition. or renegotiate its stricter controls on high- Such a request would put Japan in a legal tech exports to South Korea, a day after the quandary over participation of the Self- South Korean president urged that the issue Defense Forces in overseas activities. be resolved through diplomacy. Tokyo “Japan and the United States are closely tightened the approval process for Japanese communicating with each other,” Deputy shipments of photoresists and other sensitive Chief Cabinet Secretary Kotaro Nogami materials to South Korean companies last said at a July 10 news conference when week. Japanese officials say such materials asked about Dunford’s proposal. “But I can be exported only to trustworthy trading want to refrain from talking about the partners, hinting at security risks without details.”Dunford made the proposal at a citing specific cases. They have rejected time of escalating friction between the suggestions that the move was driven by a United States and Iran over its nuclear worsening in ties between the two countries program and maritime incidents in the related to historical issues. Strait of Hormuz. However, the content South Korea denied the allegations, of the coalition’s activities has not been summoning a Japanese Embassy official to revealed. Under the proposal, each protest Abe’s suggestion that it could not be participating country in the coalition trusted to faithfully implement sanctions would escort their own commercial vessels against North Korea, Foreign Ministry through the strait. spokesman Kim In-chul said. South Korean http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ officials say there is no evidence to back up AJ201907110052.html such claims and that Seoul has been properly implementing international sanctions Japan’s defense chief has ‘no plan’ against the North over its nuclear weapons program. Sung Yun-mo, South Korea’s to dispatch SDF troops to the minister of trade, industry and energy, said Middle East Tuesday that an “emergency inspection” of Japan Times, July 16, 2019 companies that process and export the chemicals imported from Japan found no Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said sign of illegal transactions allowing them to Tuesday he has “no plan” to send the Self- reach North Korea or any other country Defense Forces to the Middle East to join affected by United Nations sanctions. a military coalition envisioned by the United States to safeguard commercial https://www.apnews.com/ shipping from Iranian threats in the region. 7c9a44fd7a7047c5b7790becae6ef872 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/07/16/ Japan prepares for U.S. request to national/japans-defense-chief-no-plan-dispatch- join patrols in Strait of Hormuz sdf-troops-middle-east/#.XTAh6lQza00 The Asahi Shimbun, July 11, 2019 Japanese IAEA head Yukiya Japanese officials are apparently scrambling Amano to step down next year for to determine how to respond to a possible health reasons: diplomatic source U.S. request to join a military coalition to Japan Times, July 18, 2019 secure maritime safety in the Strait of Hormuz off Iran. Several Defense Ministry The head of the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog, 59 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Yukiya Amano, will step down in March for North Korea says U.S. ‘hell-bent health reasons, diplomatic sources said on hostile acts’ despite wanting to Wednesday, as the agency navigates talk verification of the increasingly fragile Iran nuclear deal. “An official statement about Michelle Nichols his departure is expected next week,” said a diplomat, who spoke on condition of Reuters, July 4, 2019 anonymity. Amano has been director- North Korea’s mission to the United general of the International Atomic Energy Nations accused the United States on Agency (IAEA) since 2009 and his latest Wednesday of being “more and more hell- mandate had been due to run until 2021. bent on hostile acts” against Pyongyang, But the 72-year-old Japanese national is despite President Donald Trump wanting seeking to step down for health reasons, talks between the two countries. In a another diplomat said, also on condition of statement the mission said it was anonymity. The IAEA declined comment responding to a U.S. accusation that Wednesday other than to say Amano was Pyongyang breached a cap on refined in contact with members of the agency’s petroleum imports and a letter that it said board of governors “regarding his future was sent on June 29 by the United States, plans.” “He will make a formal France, Germany and Britain to all U.N. communication to the board at an member states urging them to implement appropriate time,” the Vienna-based sanctions against North Korea. agency’s press office said. “What can’t be overlooked is the fact that https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/07/18/ this joint letter game was carried out by world/iaea-head-yukiya-amano-step-next-year- the permanent mission of the United States health-grounds-diplomats/#.XTAjClQza00 to the U.N. under instruction of the State Department, on the very same day when O. North Korea President Trump proposed for the summit meeting,” the statement said. North Korea upbeat on Trump-Kim surprise meeting as a chance to https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- usa-un/north-korea-says-us-hell-bent-on-hostile- push nuclear talks acts-despite-wanting-to-talk-idUSKCN1TY2S6 Joyce Lee N. Korea vows to develop ‘special’ Reuters, July 1, 2019 weapons as South buys US F-35A North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. Mainichi, July 11, 2019 President Donald Trump agreed at their meeting on Sunday to push forward North Korea has been forced to develop dialogue for making a new breakthrough in “special” weapons to counter the South’s the denuclearisation of the Korean deployment of U.S. F-35A stealth fighter peninsula, North Korean state media said jets, an official of the country’s Foreign on Monday. Ministry was quoted as saying by the state- run Korean Central News Agency on Trump became the first sitting U.S. president Thursday. The delivery of the F-35As is to set foot in North Korea on Sunday when aimed at “especially opening a ‘gate’ to he met Kim in the Demilitarized Zone invading the north in time of emergency (DMZ) between the two Koreas and agreed on the Korean peninsula,” the policy to resume stalled nuclear talks. research director at the Institute for American Studies of the Foreign Ministry https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa/ said in a statement carried by KCNA. north-korea-upbeat-on-trump-kim-surprise- meeting-as-a-chance-to-push-nuclear-talks- “We, on our part, have no other choice idINKCN1TW1D1 60 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
but to develop and test the special mainland, its first official assessment of the armaments to completely destroy the lethal long-range missile. The Hwasong-15 ICMB weapons reinforced in south Korea,” the that the communist country test-fired on director added. The official did not elaborate Nov. 29, 2017, has an estimated range of on specifically what kind of weapons North 8,000 miles, or 12,874 kilometers, which Korea will pursue. is “capable of striking any part of the continental US,” according to the “2019 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190711/p2g/ Strategic Digest,” an annual publication 00m/0in/063000c by the USFK along with the United Nations Command and the Combined North Korea Threatens the South Forces Command. Over Its Purchase of U.S. Stealth Fighters http://www.koreaherald.com/ view.php?ud=20190711000203&ACE_SEARCH=1 Timothy W. Martin and Dasl Yoon North Korea says nuclear talks at Wall Street Journal, July 11, 2019 risk if U.S.-South Korea exercises North Korea called the planned mid-July go ahead delivery of two U.S. stealth jet fighters to South Korea an affront to last year’s pledge Hyonhee Shin, Jeff Mason by the two countries to tone down military Reuters, July 16, 2019 tensions on the peninsula, saying it had no choice but to develop arms to counter them. The United States looks set to break a promise not to hold military exercises with Pyongyang, which frequently makes South Korea, putting talks aimed at exaggerated threats against Seoul and getting North Korea to abandon its Washington, said it would develop “special nuclear weapons at risk, the North Korean armaments” to destroy the jets in a state- Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday. U.S. media report Thursday. Seoul has plans to President Donald Trump, who said he buy 40 of the F-35A jets, with the first two agreed to a resumption of stalled working- having arrived in March. level talks with North Korea in a surprise meeting with its leader Kim Jong Un last This year, Pyongyang has conducted three month, appeared unperturbed, reiterating smaller-scale weapons tests—including a that he did not feel pressed to conclude a May launch of evasive short-range missiles quick deal. that military experts believe can reach U.S. military bases in South Korea. https://in.reuters.com/article/northkorea-usa- drills/north-korea-says-nuclear-talks-at-risk-if- https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea- u-s-south-korea-exercises-go-ahead- threatens-the-south-over-its-purchase-of-u-s- idINKCN1UB0RR stealth-fighters-11562845508 Pompeo hopes U.S., North Korea N. Korea’s Hwasong-15 ICBM can can be ‘more creative’ in nuclear strike anywhere in US mainland: talks USFK Makini Brice, David Brunnstrom Yonhap Reuters, July 16, 2019 Korea Herald, July 11, 2019 U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said The United States Forces Korea (USFK) has on Monday he hoped both North Korea said that North Korea’s Hwasong-15 and the United States could “be a little intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is more creative” when the two sides restart capable of reaching anywhere in the US talks aimed at ending Pyongyang’s nuclear 61 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
weapons program. Speaking in a radio other steps aimed at improving ties with interview on “The Sean Hannity Show,” Washington. “With the U.S. unilaterally Pompeo did not say when the negotiations reneging on its commitments, we are would resume. At the end of June he had gradually losing our justifications to follow said it would likely happen “sometime in through on the commitments we made July ... probably in the next two or three with the U.S. as well,” said the statement, weeks.””I hope the North Koreans will carried by the North’s official Korean come to the table with ideas that they didn’t Central News Agency. have the first time,” Pompeo said in Monday’s radio interview. “We hope we can https://www.apnews.com/ be a little more creative too.” 44424e0c62eb4faaa8735a5d26fc6cc6
However, Pompeo added: “The president’s Transatlantic relations as far apart mission hasn’t changed: to fully and finally as ever denuclearize North Korea in a way that we can verify. That’s the mission set for these Pyongyang Times, July 15, 2019 negotiations.” Disputes and friction are growing in https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea- several fields between the EU and the US usa/pompeo-hopes-us-north-korea-can-be-more- that maintain partnership. Surfacing is the creative-in-nuclear-talks-idUSKCN1UA2KZ friction surrounding the issue of European defence before anything else. In April the North Korea suggests it might lift European Parliament approved the plan weapons test moratorium for raising fund worth €13 billion for the development of weapon systems in the Foster Klug 2021-2027 period and founding a PESCO to coordinate military cooperation AP News, July 16, 2019 between member nations as part of the efforts to carry out its own defence North Korea on Tuesday suggested it might programme. call off its 20-month suspension of nuclear and missile tests because of summertime The US denounced it, saying that through U.S.-South Korean military drills that the the independent defence policy the EU North calls preparation for an eventual seeks for a change that is likely to invasion. The statement by the North’s jeopardize the integration process which Foreign Ministry comes during a general has been pushed for decades within the deadlock in nuclear talks, but after an framework of the military alliance, called extraordinary meeting of the U.S. and North NATO. Korean leaders at the Korean border that raised hopes that negotiations would soon The EU dismissed it as ungrounded, resume. The comments ramp up pressure on insisting that the implementation of its own the United States ahead of any new talks. defence plan will help EU member North Korea has had longstanding nations fulfil their commitments to NATO antipathy toward U.S.-South Korean more properly and also the military bloc military cooperation, which the allies call benefit from the EU’s collective efforts for defensive and routine but the North sees as defence. Some European countries think hostile. that dependence on the US in the field of defence can never guarantee European Amid the diplomatic jockeying, North Korea security. The abrogation of the Russia-US said Tuesday that expected regular Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty (INF summertime U.S.-South Korean military Treaty) has forced the EU to regard the drills are forcing it to rethink whether to building of self-defence capacity as an remain committed to the promises it has urgent matter that brooks no further delay. made to the United States. It cited its moratorium on nuclear and missile tests and http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/ ?bbs=30681 62 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
North Korea condemns US for international panel look into the issue. breaking its promise Cheong Wa Dae urged the Japanese government to apologize and retract its Pyongyang Times, July 15, 2019 recent export control against Seoul if its assertion turns out to be false. A spokesman for the DPRK Foreign Ministry issued the following statement on Tuesday: In a statement, Kim You-geun, deputy The United States and south Korea are going chief of Cheong Wa Dae’s national security to defiantly conduct a joint military exercise office, emphasized that South Korea, a “Alliance 19-2” targeting us in August. signatory to four major multilateral export Outwardly, the US is trumpeting that this control regimes, has thoroughly curbed the exercise is a simulation to verify whether the illicit shipment of dual-use and strategic south Korean army is capable of taking over materials from its shores.Kim pointed out, wartime operational control. But, it is crystal South Korea caught more than 150 clear that it is an actual drill and a rehearsal attempts to export such materials without of war aimed at militarily occupying our authorization. The government made an Republic by surprise attack and rapid announcement on that as well. dispatch of large-scale reinforcements under the cloak of “containment” and “counter- It demonstrates that South Korea is offensive” in time of emergency. abiding by global export control rules strictly and transparently, he added. If it’s We really have many things to say about the proved that South Korea is innocent, facts that the US, together with Japan, south Japan will have to offer an apology itself Korea and other countries, staged the and immediately withdraw the export “Proliferation Security Initiative” exercise restrictions, he said. Kim, who’s doubling targeting our country in early July and as head of the secretariat of the National continues to bring highly sophisticated war Security Council, urged Japan to ask itself equipment into south Korea. With the US if it’s transparently following the four unilaterally reneging on its commitments, export control systems: the Wassenaar we are gradually losing our justifications to Arrangement, Nuclear Suppliers Group, follow through on the commitments we Australia Group and Missile Technology made with the US as well. I wonder whether Control Regime. He called for a full there would be such obligation or law that investigation into possible violations by one side alone has to continue to cling to Japan as well. when it is clear that a unilateral adherence would not bring any gains because the other http://www.koreaherald.com/ side neither honors nor minds them. view.php?ud=20190712000445&ACE_SEARCH=1
http://www.pyongyangtimes.com.kp/ Pentagon: Seoul, Washington preparing joint exercise despite P. South Korea Pyongyang’s warning Cheong Wa Dae proposes int’l probe Korea Times, July 17, 2019 into Japan’s claim over S. Korea’s strategic material control South Korea and the United States are preparing to stage a joint military exercise Yonhap this fall, the Pentagon said Tuesday, after Korea Herald, July 12, 2019 North Korea warned the drill will affect the prospects of working-level nuclear talks The office of President Moon Jae-in on Friday between the two countries. bristled at Japan’s accusations that South Korea might have leaked sensitive industrial The North’s foreign ministry issued the materials to North Korea or third countries, warning Tuesday, arguing that the “19-2 demanding that Tokyo agree to have an Dong Maeng” exercise, slated for around August, runs counter to the commitment 63 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
that U.S. President Donald Trump made and Woody Island (Yongxing Island) in when he held a surprise meeting with North the South China Sea. Korean leader Kim Jong-un on June 30. “If the military exercise really goes ahead, it http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/ would affect the DPRK-U.S. working-level archives/2019/07/01/2003717895 talks,” the North said. “We will formulate our decision on the opening of the DPRK- Taiwan to shut down 2nd nuclear U.S. working-level talks, while keeping reactor within days watch over the U.S. move hereafter.” Mainichi Japan, July 12, 2019 http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2019/ Taiwan’s Atomic Energy Council agreed 07/103_272428.html on Friday to shut down a second nuclear reactor on Monday when its 40-year Q. Taiwan operating license expires, moving the Iran conflict might hold defense key island a step closer to nuclear-free for Taiwan status.The decommissioning of the No. 2 reactor of the No. 1 nuclear power plant Lu Li-shih in Shimen, New Taipei City, follows that of the plant’s No. 1 reactor, closed for the Taipei Times, July 1, 2019 same reason last December.
Iran was able to accurately assess multiple Taiwan still has two other nuclear power targets flying close to its territorial airspace plants, each with two reactors. In a despite not having fighter jets monitoring or statement, the council said it issued the tailing the US aircraft suggests that it was decommission license Friday to Taiwan relying on electronic intelligence. Iran’s Power Co., the builder and operator of the challenge to the US military’s close-in facility, after the state-owned power utility reconnaissance tactics flies in the face of submitted relevant documents. Li Chi-ssu, “freedom of overflight” and “freedom of deputy director of the council’s navigation” operations conducted by many Department of Nuclear Regulation, told countries in the past few years. These Kyodo News that with the license, the operations have included military planes company can now begin the lengthy and warships periodically passing through process of discharging and storing spent the crowded and narrow Taiwan Strait. fuel rods. It originally planned to store them at an outdoor dry storage facility, but Taiwan’s military uses radar, early-warning cannot do so due to the opposition of the aircraft, maritime patrol vessels, combat air New Taipei City government. patrols and visual identification by fishing vessels. This should be complemented by https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190712/ including open-source intelligence, such as p2g/00m/0in/095000c flight data from the ADS-B Exchange and automatic identification systems, into a joint AEC approves Taipower’s Jinshan intelligence detection system to provide the decommission plan most up-to-date possible picture of maritime and airspace movements. The Chinese Lin Chia-nan People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is possibly modeling itself on US military tactics and Taipie Times, July 13, 2019 employs electronic-warfare/jammer aircraft The Atomic Energy Council (AEC) with Harbin BZK-005 high-altitude, long- yesterday issued a permit to state-run range reconnaissance drones, which conduct encirclement “drills” around Taiwan Power Co (Taipower) to decommission the Jinshan Nuclear Power Taiwan. Harbin drones are stationed on the Plant over a 25-year period, council official Zhoushan archipelago in the East China Sea 64 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
Kao Pin said, adding that storage of used How Each Country Contributed to fuel rods remains a major challenge. Built the Explosion in Energy in New Taipei City’s Shihmen Districtin the Consumption 1970s, Taiwan’s first nuclear power plant, it has two reactors with an installed Lauren Leatherby and Chris Martin capacity of 636 megawatts each, information on Taipower’s Website showed. Bloomberg, July 9, 2019
The 40-year operation permit for the plant’s The world has almost doubled its energy No. 1 reactor expired on Dec. 5 last year, consumption since 1980. While renewable but it has not operated since 2014 due to a energy resources such as solar and wind problem with reactor components, Kao power are getting cheaper to build, much said. The 40-year permit for its No. 2 reactor of that demand growth has come from the is to expire on Monday, although it, too, has use of fossil fuels. In fact, half of all carbon not been in operation since a power emissions from fossil-fuel operations in transmission tower collapsed due to heavy modern history have come in just the last rain in June 2017, he said. After Taipower’s three decades, putting the Earth on a decommissioning plan last week obtained climate precipice. environmental impact assessment approval The rise in energy demand is essentially a from the Environmental Protection story of economic and population growth. Administration (EPA), the council yesterday Primary energy consumption—which issued the permit, which is to take effect on encompasses virtually all demand, right Tuesday, he said. down to the losses of energy as it travels http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ across transmission and distribution archives/2019/07/13/2003718586 lines—has boomed in developing parts of the world, even as it leveled off, or even R. Miscellaneous and World fell, in industrialized countries. UN chief welcomes possibility of https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2019- resumed talks between US and DPR international-energy-use-renewables-coal-oil/ Korea Why The World Needs More UN News, July 1, 2019 Nuclear Power
The UN chief “welcomes the meetings in Robert Rapier Panmunjom involving the leaders of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Forbes, July 11, 2019 Republic of Korea and the United States”, This is the final article in a series based on his spokesperson said in a statement, adding BP’s recently-released Statistical Review of “particularly the announcement that the World Energy 2019. Previous articles in DPRK and the United States will resume this series covered carbon dioxide working-level dialogue”. emissions, petroleum supply and demand, For the first time since their last summit in the production and consumption of coal, the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, broke down global natural gas trends, and the in February, both countries agreed to continued explosion in the growth of resume stalled nuclear talks. Before crossing renewable energy: over, US President Donald Trump and North https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2019/07/ Korean leader Kim Jong-un, posed for 11/why-the-world-needs-nuclear-power/ photographers in the heavily-fortified #7c72c507bd61 demilitarized zone.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/07/1041622 65 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Trinity: “The most significant Islamabad to outpace each other in the hazard of the entire Manhattan variety and size of their nuclear arsenals, Project” the peril to South Asia in particular and the world at large only grows. Kathleen M. Tucker, Robert Alvarez, July 15, 2019 It’s possible that a small spark from artillery and rocket exchanges across that Arms Control Association, July 15, 2019 border might — given the known military doctrines of the two nuclear-armed For the past several years, the controversy neighbors — lead inexorably to an all-out over radioactive fallout from the world’s first nuclear conflagration. In that case the atomic bomb explosion in Alamogordo, New result would be catastrophic. Besides Mexico on July 16, 1945—code-named causing the deaths of millions of Indians Trinity—has intensified. Evidence collected and Pakistanis, such a war might bring on by the New Mexico health department but “nuclear winter” on a planetary scale, ignored for some 70 years shows an leading to levels of suffering and death unusually high rate of infant mortality in that would be beyond our comprehension. New Mexico counties downwind from the explosion and raises a serious question https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/india-and- whether or not the first victims of the first pakistan-two-nations-always-brink-nuclear- atomic explosion might have been war-65696 American children. Whoops: India’s Navy Left Nearly Even though the first scientifically credible Sunk Its Own $3 Billion Nuclear warnings about the hazards of radioactive fallout from a nuclear explosion had been Submarine made by 1940, historical records indicate a National Interest Blog, July 10, 2019 fallout team was not established until less than a month before the Trinity test, a hasty Call it a lesson learned for the Indian navy, effort motivated primarily by concern over which managed to put the country’s first legal liability. In October 1947, a local health nuclear-missile submarine, the $2.9 billion care provider raised an alarm about infant INS Arihant, out of commission in the deaths downwind of the Trinity test, most boneheaded way possible. bringing it to the attention of radiation safety experts working for the US nuclear weapons The incident is also quite an program. Their response misrepresented embarrassment — and strategic concern New Mexico’s then-unpublished data on — for the Indian Armed Forces. A Russian health effects Akula-class attack sub modified to accommodate a variety of ballistic missiles, https://thebulletin.org/2019/07/trinity-the-most- the Arihant represented a major advance significant-hazard-of-the-entire-manhattan- in India’s nuclear triad after its completion project/ in October 2016. (India in 1974 became the 6th country to conduct a successful S. OP-ED nuclear test.) Indeed, the Arihant’s ability to deliver K-15 short-range and K-4 India intermediate-range nuclear missiles was India and Pakistan: Two Nations envisioned as a powerful deterrent against India’s uneasy nuclear state neighbor, Always At the Brink of Nuclear War Pakistan. National Interest Blog, July 5, 2019 This is just some sloppy, dangerous In other words, as the Kashmir dispute seamanship, and the Indian Navy better continues to fester, inducing periodic get its act together fast. Either that, or terrorist attacks on India and fueling the perhaps follow the Royal Navy’s lead and competition between New Delhi and install the 2001-era Windows XP as an 66 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
operating system on all your most vital Department has not only further strained vessels. That way, you can blame the blue cross-Straits relations, it is also trying screen of death instead of “human error” Beijing’s patience. And by passing a series for the next critical foul-up. Although even of acts and resolutions related to Taiwan outdated software probably knows enough this year, the US Congress has dealt a to dog down on all the hatches. serious blow to Sino-US relations, as well as undermined peace and stability across https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/whoops- the Straits. indias-navy-left-nearly-sunk-its-own-3-billion- nuclear-submarine-66211 The US House of Representatives enacted the Taiwan Assurance Act of 2019 and China passed a resolution reaffirming the US’ commitment to Taiwan on May 7, which India should stop using ‘China essentially means the US would sell arms threat’ to build up its military to the island regularly and back its Ai Jun participation in international organizations. That the US has continued Global Times, July 2, 2019 to meddle in Taiwan affairs shows it is desperate to use the “Taiwan card” to Since the founding of India, the country has contain the Chinese mainland. The US been longing to become a major global believes that by consolidating its power. The pursuit of dominance in the relationship with Taiwan authorities Indian Ocean is vital to its great power through acts and resolutions, it can dream. However, some Indian people, further integrate the island into its “Indo- especially Indian journalists, have a bad Pacific” strategy to contain the mainland, habit - taking the so-called China threat the biggest rival in Washington’s eyes theory as its excuse to develop India’s thanks, in part, to the trade disputes military strength. between them.
Bloomberg published on Monday a report http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201907/11/ written by an Indian correspondent, saying WS5d266de2a3105895c2e7ccf8.html the Indian government “seeks to buy $2.2 billion in warships.” The author explained Pakistan it is a part of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s $250 billion military Envisaging a South Asian peace modernization plan to arm the country dialogue? “when it faces threats in its maritime waters Syed Qamar Afzal Rizvi from its neighbor China.” By “threats” he means “Beijing has in the past sent its Daily Times, July 1, 2019 warships to the Indian Ocean region.” The article was soon republished by several India Indian premier Narendra Modi and FM media. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar have reportedly responded to Pakistan’s http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ renewed call for dialogue, having written 1156529.shtml to their respective counterparts Imran Khan and Shah Mehmood Qureshi Arms sales to Taiwan a blow to expressing the intent, a news report said Sino-US ties recently. “India is ready to hold talks with Pakistan and other countries in the region Li Zhenguang for the sake of regional peace and China Daily, July 11, 2019 prosperity,” the report added. This peace initiative rightly taken from Islamabad and By approving the potential sale of arms belatedly responded by New Delhi could worth $2.2 billion to Taiwan, the US State nevertheless provide a sustainable basis for 67 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
the two nuclear neighbours to amicably relations are not good. American mend their fences beyond the ghettos of arrogance of power and Pakistan’s cultural antagonism and geopolitical quest punching above its weight are to blame. for power dominance. The prime minister will need to convince Trump not to blame Pakistan for US https://dailytimes.com.pk/421956/envisaging-a- failures in Afghanistan and to assure him south-asian-peace-dialogue/ that he will do his best to enable the US to exit Afghanistan without loss of Importance Of Nuclear Submarines credibility. This will require actions more For Pakistan – than words.
Anjum Sarfraz Pakistan’s relations with the US are important. But their scope is limited. The Eurasia Review, July 2, 2019 benefits of a better relationship with the A submarine is a very powerful platform, US, while important, are circumscribed by because of its stealth features and ability to the priority it gives India as the fulcrum of operate covertly. It plays vital role in naval its Indo-Pacific strategy. This will not warfare and as a strategic weapon carrier. change. It can operate under water for a considerable duration, hence cannot be https://asianews.network/2019/07/09/pakistans- relations-with-the-us-are-important-but-their- easily detected; therefore it has become an scope-is-limited/ essential constituent of modern navies.
Submarines (subs) are of four types, which Nuclear Suppliers Group And differ mainly because of their propulsion Membership Of Pakistan system and weapons carried on board. Anjum Sarfraz Diesel powered attack submarines (SSK) while on surface use diesel engines for Eurasia Review, July 15, 2019 propulsion, and while traversing under water it runs on batteries which have limited The Nuclear Suppliers group(NSG) was endurance. To recharge, conventional subs formed in 1975 after the explosion by India have to come up to periscope depth for in May 1974 of a nuclear device that had snorkeling very often, keeping in view been built by using civilian technology battery conditions. It is very vulnerable acquired under the auspices of the United while snorkeling; chances of detection by States-sponsored Atoms for Peace Anti-Submarine Warfare Forces (ASW) like Program acquired from USA and Canada. maritime patrol aircraft, helicopter, and India declared this detonation for peaceful surface platforms are very high. It is relevant purposes although it was for military use. to mention that subs have no weapons The NSG seeks to prevent similar future against the aircrafts. misuses.
https://www.eurasiareview.com/02072019- To admit a new country in the group importance-of-nuclear-submarines-for-pakistan- prerequisites are; it must have the oped/ capability to supply the items and country should adhere to the guidelines of NSG, Pakistan’s relations with the US are signatory of Nuclear Non-proliferation important but their scope is limited Treaty (NPT). The country supports the international efforts towards non- Asia News Network, July 9, 2019 proliferation of weapons of mass The prime minister will meet the president destruction and of their delivery vehicles. of the US on July 22. The Foreign Office will Enforcement of a legally based domestic prepare essential briefing materials. Leaders export control system which gives effect ignore them at their peril. Pakistan-US to the commitment to act in accordance 68 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
with the guidelines. Consensus of all member example, do not want the United States states which are presently 48 is mandatory to launch a preventive war against North for new entrant. Korea. But our survey also showed that a large hawkish minority lurks within the https://www.eurasiareview.com/15072019- US public; over a third of respondents nuclear-suppliers-group-and-membership-of- approve of a US preventive strike across pakistan-oped/ scenarios. For many of these hawks, support for an attack, even in a preventive USA war, does not significantly decrease when Iran Is Rushing to Build a Nuclear the story says that the United States would use nuclear weapons that are expected to Weapon — and Trump Can’t Stop It kill 1 million North Korean civilians. A John J. Mearsheimer survey shows that a large hawkish minority lurks within the US public. It The New York Times, July 1, 2019 would likely support a nuclear attack on North Korea, even if it killed 1 million President Trump says he wants to make sure civilians. Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. His policy, however, is having the opposite https://thebulletin.org/2019/07/what-do- effect: It is giving Tehran a powerful americans-really-think-about-conflict-with- incentive to go nuclear, while at the same nuclear-north-korea-the-answer-is-both-reassur- time making it increasingly difficult for the ing-and-disturbing/ United States to prevent that. On Monday the official Iranian news agency announced Janne Nolan: from “fellowette” to that the country had breached the limits for godmother of the D.C. nuclear enriched uranium imposed on it by the 2015 policy community international agreements. Anne I. Harrington Although there has not yet been a significant military clash, the United States has Bulleitin of Atomic Scientistc, July 9, effectively declared war on Iran. Its wide- 2019 ranging sanctions campaign is strangling The inimitable Janne Nolan passed away Iran’s economy, in the hope of gaining last week. Janne was one of the sufficient leverage to force Tehran to godmothers of the D.C. nuclear policy permanently dismantle its capacity to community. She made her name as an reprocess plutonium and enrich uranium, expert in nuclear weapons, proliferation, the main pathways to the bomb. and arms control while working as a senior https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/01/opinion/ fellow at the Brookings Institution during iran-is-rushing-to-build-a-nuclear-weapon-and- the waning years of the Cold War. trump-cant-stop-it.html Throughout the 1990’s she served as an advisor to the US Secretary of Defense, What do Americans really think sitting on the Defense Policy Board as well about conflict with nuclear North as multiple blue ribbon commissions. She Korea? The answer is both reassuring taught courses on national security and weapons of mass destruction at and disturbing Georgetown, Columbia, and the Alida R. Haworth , Scott D. Sagan, University of Pittsburgh. Benjamin A. Valentino In 2010, Janne joined the faculty of George Bulleitin of Atomic Scientistc, July 2, 2019 Washington University’s Elliot School of International Affairs where she headed the A thoroughgoing survey of US public Nuclear Security Working Group (NSWG), opinion about war in East Asia produced hosting regular bipartisan gatherings of some reassuring results. Most Americans, for high-level policy makers, nuclear experts 69 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
from think tanks and academia, and retired this key event may have been behind Kim US military flag officers and generals. She Jong-un’s decision in April to set an end- authored eight books and numerous articles. of-year deadline for diplomacy with the Janne started out her career working for United States. Senator Gary Hart, a Colorado Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She https://nationalinterest.org/blog/korea-watch/ went on to become an advisor to his 1988 tell-tale-flaws-trumps-north-korea-strategy- presidential campaign. Hart was the front 66952 runner for the Democratic party’s nomination until questions of marital Russia infidelity and womanizing began to plague Nuclear Holocaust: If an Israel vs. him, a photograph of him aboard a yacht Russia War Broke Out in the with a woman (who was not his wife) perched on his lap finally tanking his Middle East campaign. Michael Peck
https://thebulletin.org/2019/07/janne-nolan-from- National Interest Blog, July 1, 2019 fellowette-to-godmother-of-the-d-c-nuclear-policy- community/ Were the Israelis and Russians to come to blows, or if Moscow were to seriously The Tell-Tale Flaws in Trump’s threAaten military force against Israel, North Korea Strategy could the United States risk a grave loss of prestige by not intervening to back its Naoko Aoki longtime ally? Could Russia—whose Syrian intervention is a proud symbol of The National Interest, July 14, 2019 its reborn military muscle and great power President Donald Trump and North Korean status—not retaliate for another downed leader Kim Jong-un agreed in their Russian plane or a dead Russian soldier? impromptu meeting at the demilitarized https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/nuclear- zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas on holocaust-if-israel-vs-russia-war-broke-out- June 30 to revive working-level talks over middle-east-65051 North Korea’s denuclearization. If the bilateral negotiations resume as scheduled What Would the U.S. Do if Russia later this month, then U.S. negotiators could face potential time constraints tied to the Attacked with Nuclear Weapons? political calendar and a complex task. The Warrior Maven meeting between Trump and Kim at the DMZ appears to have injected much-needed National Interest Blog, July 3, 2019 political momentum into diplomacy between the United States and North Korea, which Goldfein extended this thinking to specify has been stalled since the failed Hanoi that, in an instant, US and NATO forces summit in February. would launch a massive counterattack including, as he put it, “fighters, bombers, The two leaders emphasized their good tankers, space, command and control, ISR, personal relations in the DMZ meeting, cyber, special operations and aeromedical which was high in symbolism even if limited teams trained and ready for high-end in substance. But the reliance on personal warfare.” chemistry between Trump and Kim has its downside. It means that the process is highly (Washington, D.C.) Red lights start dependent on the personalities of the two flashing in rapid succession, space-based leaders, and that the U.S. presidential infrared sensors detect a heat signature, election in 2020 could have an especially somebody calls the President...and in what important role to play for the diplomatic may seem like a matter of seconds, the US process. In fact, North Korean concern about launches an immediate, massive 70 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
counterattack. F-35s, B-2 bombers, nuclear- power plant when my companion’s armed Navy submarines, missile-armed radiation detector begins to beep manically. destroyers, Ground Based Interceptors and You cannot smell it, see it or hear it, but satellites — are all instantly thrust into death still emanates from the place. action. Why? https://www.ft.com/content/d37ff98e-a18d- https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/what- 11e9-974c-ad1c6ab5efd1 would-us-do-if-russia-attacked-nuclear-weapons- 65326 WEST ASIA
Spy Sub Down: How a Secret Iran Russian Nuclear Submarine Caught The complex brinkmanship Fire behind Iran’s nuclear response Mark Episkopos Andrew England
National Interest blog, July 6, 2019 Financial Times, July 3, 2019
A fire broke out on a Russian research Hours after the White House claimed submarine earlier this week, killing fourteen illogically that there was “little doubt” that sailors in what is Russia’s worst submarine Tehran had violated its nuclear accord disaster since 2008. even before it existed, Mohammad Javad Zarif summed up Iran’s exasperation in a Russian authorities have remained tight- word. lipped on the nature of the data being collected by the submarine and the His frustration was not unreasonable. In circumstances of the fire. “On July 1, the year after Donald Trump unilaterally fourteen submariners - sailors died in withdrew the US from the 2015 pact and Russian territorial waters as a result of imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran, the inhaling combustion products aboard a Islamic republic complied with the accord. research submersible vehicle designated for This was despite the US president crushing studying the seafloor and the bottom of the Iran’s hopes that it would reap the World Ocean in the interests of the Russian economic dividend it was promised when Navy after a fire broke out during it agreed to curb its atomic activities. bathymetric measurements,” reads the Defense Ministry’s press release. https://www.ft.com/content/75fd3f62-9cd1- 11e9-9c06-a4640c9feebb https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/spy-sub- down-how-secret-russian-nuclear-submarine- Game of chicken that can end in caught-fire-65886 disaster: on U.S.-Iran relations Why Chernobyl still divides Russia Mohammed Ayoob from the west Hindu, July 13, 2019 Henry Foy On July 7, Iran announced that it would Financial Times, July 12, 2019 begin enriching uranium above a concentration of 3.67% permitted under The most dangerous building in the world the nuclear deal, known as the Joint is lit with halogen floodlights beneath a Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), shimmering silver dome. Dappled in shades reached by Iran and the P5+1 (China, of faded grey, propped up at one end by France, Germany, Russia, the United yellow scaffolding, it looms like an industrial Kingdom, and the United States) on July crime scene. We are standing just a dozen 14, 2015. metres from the condemned concrete walls of Reactor Four at the Chernobyl nuclear 71 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
These steps come in the wake of increasing Parties must close gap with reality tensions between the U.S. and Iran following in talks on nuclear power the shooting down of an unmanned U.S. drone over the Strait of Hormuz in June. The The Asahi Shimbun, July 15, 2019 circumstances surrounding this event and Any discussion on nuclear power policy the locale of the downing are contested. should be based on reality. In their Upper However, it led to the U.S. President, Donald House election campaign platforms, the Trump, first ordering a retaliatory strike on ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its Iran and then rescinding it at the last minute. junior coalition partner, Komeito, say they It is possible that had this strike taken place will allow more restarts of nuclear reactors it would have become the first act in a major in line with the government’s Basic Energy military confrontation between the U.S. and Plan. The plan defines nuclear energy as Iran. a mainstay source of power, which it https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/game- assumes will account for 20 to 22 percent of-chicken-that-can-end-in-disaster/ of Japan’s total power supply in fiscal article28415525.ece 2030.
EAST ASIA Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, decisions have been made to Japan decommission some of the nation’s nuclear reactors; plans are being floated to Upper House poll will be vote on decommission others. The total number of curbing Abe’s dominant power the reactors concerned is 21. Achieving the goal of the Basic Energy Plan would The Asahi Shimbun, July 4, 2019 require about 30 operating reactors, The opposition candidates will undoubtedly meaning the activation of almost all attract votes from many people critical of remaining nuclear reactors in Japan. One the Abe administration. But it is not quite is tempted to ask if such a plan can be clear to voters under what kind of common described as realistic. political agenda the opposition forces are http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ joining hands. The leaders of five opposition AJ201907150030.html parties, including the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the Democratic Party for the People, the Japanese Latest science should apply to Communist Party and the Social Democratic anti-quake steps of nuclear plants Party, have signed a 13-point agenda The Asahi Shimbun, July 15, 2019 proposed by the Civil Alliance for Peace and Constitution, a citizen union promoting A study group at the Nuclear Regulation opposition alliance. Authority (NRA) has worked out a draft plan to revise a calculation formula crucial The agenda calls for opposing an for efforts to improve the earthquake amendment to the war-renouncing Article resistance of nuclear plants. This step is 9, repealing the security legislation, phasing naturally required to ensure compliance out nuclear power generation and aborting with the fundamental principle that safety the planned consumption tax hike. While the measures for nuclear plants should be agenda is described as a common policy based on the latest scientific knowledge. platform, the parties are not in agreement The plan will be formalized shortly and on which of the planks should be given a instructions about the change will be higher priority. issued to electric utilities operating nuclear plants. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ AJ201907040031.html The revision to the calculation formula will also be applied to nuclear reactors that 72 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
have been officially certified to fulfill the new T. Think Tanks safety standards including ones that have already been restarted. This is a system Trump Won’t Accept These Harsh known as “backfitting,” which means the Realities on Iran required modification resulting from a new Richard Sokolsky, Aaron David Miller or amended provision in the NRA’s regulations based on the latest scientific Carnegie Endowment for International knowledge. Peace, July 02, 2019
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/ All administrations — and together we AJ201907180052.html worked for seven — have their blind spots and illusions on foreign policy and national Taiwan security. But the Trump administration seems particularly divorced from reality, Richard D. Fisher, Jr. On Taiwan: especially with its otherworldly view of China’s hypersonic attack missiles the current US-Iran crisis. require deterrent responses Facing up to some hard realities might Taipei Times, July 8, 2019 actually help to prevent a catastrophe and China’s near-term deployment of a new protect US interests, even though we have class of maneuverable hypersonic speed little confidence the administration will be missiles poses a new level of threat to able to — or even wants to — squirm out Taiwan, United States forces in Asia, and of the box it has put itself in. those of its allies. As a credible defensive First, the current crisis flows from events response to this threat may not be possible set in motion by President Donald Trump’s for many years, it is crucial that Washington reckless and unnecessary decision to walk deploy a deterrent response by rapidly out of an admittedly flawed but still highly developing its own hypersonic missiles and functional nuclear accord without a offering appropriate versions to allies and serious plan B.. Make no mistake: The US friends like Taiwan. and Iran were at odds long before Trump Hypersonic missile and hypersonic glide walked out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal vehicle (HGV) weapons pose a major threat last year. because their high Mach 10, or ten times the https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/07/02/ speed of sound speed, combined with the trump-won-t-accept-these-harsh-realities-on- ability to perform extreme maneuvers at iran-pub-79432 detection-delaying lower altitudes, make them invulnerable to current missile defense The Other Existential Threat: systems. In addition, their very high impact Nuclear Weapons & the 2020 speeds increase their destructive effect, though they can also be equipped with small Presidential Campaign nuclear warheads. After decades of Sean Meyer research, development and more recent testing, China’s People’s Liberation Army Union of Concerned Scientist, July 3, (PLA) may be on the verge of deploying its 2019 first land-based medium range, missile- based, HGV-armed attack missile. The 2020 presidential campaign kicked off in earnest with last week’s Miami debates, http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/ and many of the “high profile” topics were archives/2019/07/08/2003718294 covered: climate change, immigration, gun control. One topic was a little more 73 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
unexpected: nuclear weapons. On the first A Sign Of Easing Tension? India night, three of the ten candidates on stage And Pakistan’s Joint Venture To said nuclear weapons or the threat of Forge Religious Ties nuclear war is the biggest geopolitical threat facing the United States. The Organisation for World Peace, July 10, 2019 This should not be surprising: recent polling shows that in key primary states, including Under the directives of the Prime Minister New Hampshire and Iowa, over 80% of of Pakistan, Imran Khan, and Evacuee respondents want to know what candidates Trust Property Board (ETPB) Chairman Dr think about nuclear weapons. We also know Amir Ahmed, July 3rd witnessed the from recent national polling that more than opening of an ancient Hindu temple in 80% of people support arms control treaties Sialkot in Pakistan’s Punjab province. For with Russia. the first time in 72 years, Pakistani adherents of Hinduism were granted https://blog.ucsusa.org/sean-meyer/nuclear- access to worship in the Shawala Teja weapons-candidates-primaries Singh Temple. The move follows the government’s announcement in April that Recycle everything, America— they will reclaim and restore 400 temples except your nuclear waste to the minority group in Pakistan, and compliments a joint decision by Prime Allison Macfarlane, Sharon Squassoni Minister Khan and the Prime Minister of Bulletin of Atomic Scientist, July 8, 2019 India, Narendra Modi, to construct the Kartarpur corridor, allowing visa-free Americans have come late to the game on access to Hindi pilgrims from India. These responsible consumerism, but they are actions are symbolic of potential making up for lost time with a passionate reconciliation efforts on behalf of the two obsession about waste. It’s no coincidence governments to quell ongoing conflict that that Fox News, CNN, YouTube and USA was sparked during the Partition of India Today have all reported that the deepest solo in 1947. A meeting between officials of ocean dive found plastic waste seven miles India and Pakistan is scheduled to take below the surface, in the Mariana Trench. place in Pakistan on 14th July to discuss the opening of the corridor between the two Now that Americans are “woke” about countries. waste in general, they may turn to the specific kind produced by the nuclear energy http://theowp.org/a-sign-of-easing-tension- industry. Plans to revitalize US nuclear india-and-pakistans-joint-venture-to-forge- power, which is in dire economic straits, religious-ties/ depend on the potential for new, “advanced” reactors to reduce and recycle New CRP: Optimizing Nuclear the waste they produce. Unfortunately, as Techniques to Assess Accurate they “burn” some kinds of nuclear wastes, Quantitative Biomarkers of Added these plants will create other kinds that also Sugar Intake in Adults (E43034) require disposal. At the same time, these “advanced” reactors—many of which are Cornelia Loechl actually reprises of past efforts—increase security and nuclear weapons proliferation International Atomic Energy Agency, risks and ultimately do nothing to break July 12, 2019 down the political and societal resistance to The IAEA is launching a new five-year finding real solutions to nuclear waste Coordinated Research Project (CRP) that disposal. aims to optimize the use of natural https://thebulletin.org/2019/07/recycle-every- abundance stable isotope ratios of carbon thing-america-except-your-nuclear-waste/ (13C/12C, hereafter the “CIR”) to assess 74 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
added sugar intake in different populations. a reporting violation, as many kinds of This is relevant in terms of the emerging radioactive material, such as the evidence for the role of carbohydrate and americium in smoke detectors and the free sugar intake in chronic disease, and the cobalt-60 used for medical radiotherapy, recent guidelines issued by the World Health do not fall under IAEA safeguards. It is Organization (WHO) which recommend now my understanding, however, that it restricting free sugar in the diet to less than was material that Iran was obliged to 10%, or even 5% of total energy intake for report to the IAEA. additional health benefits. https://www.iiss.org/blogs/survival-blog/2019/ https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/new-crp- 07/undeclared-iranian-nuclear-activity-and- optimizing-nuclear-techniques-to-assess-accurate- iaea-process quantitative-biomarkers-of-added-sugar-intake-in- adults-e43034 NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg’s INF Response Is Finding evidence of undeclared past Inadequate nuclear activity in Iran shows the IAEA process is working Daryl G. Kimball Mark Fitzpatrick Arms Control Association, July 15, 2019
IISS Blog, July 15, 2019 Russian pursuit of the 9M729 intermediate-range missile, which is With the International Atomic Energy banned under the 1987 Intermediate- Agency (IAEA) having recently concluded Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, is that traces of undeclared radioactive unacceptable and merits a strong material were indeed found at a warehouse response. But NATO Secretary-General in Tehran, Mark Fitzpatrick argues the Stoltenberg’s formula, as expressed in a IAEA investigative process is working. A new op-ed published in the German- cooperative approach is the best way to language Frankfurter Allgemeine, is provide for the greater access to suspect sites inadequate. In his July 14 essay, the in Iran the IAEA needs if it is to resolve the Secretary-General embraces the Trump issue. Overshadowed by other Iran-related administration’s decision to terminate the tensions, there was a noteworthy treaty August 2 without a realistic plan to development last week about nuclear- help resolve the long-running compliance related material that Iran has sought to dispute. This move, combined with the conceal. Israeli media reported that possibility of new U.S. ground-launched environmental sampling conducted earlier cruise missiles in Europe—is risky and this year by the International Atomic Energy unwise as it opens the door to a new phase Agency (IAEA) at a warehouse in the of destabilizing INF missile competition Turquzabad district of Tehran found traces with Russia. of what Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu last September said was 15kg of Furthermore, Stoltenberg fails to mention radioactive material that had been stored that U.S. officials have refused thus far to there along with tonnes of equipment and take up Russia’s offer to discuss “any moved elsewhere last summer. The Israeli mutually beneficial proposals that take into government apparently leaked the findings account the interests and concerns of both out of disappointment that the IAEA did not parties.” Options that address Russian report on it in the mid-June Board of concerns about U.S. missile defense Governors meeting. It is a serious matter. launchers in Romania and Poland— Netanyahu’s characterisation of which are capable of firing offensive ‘radioactive’ material had previously led me missiles—and that encourage the to think that it might not rise to the level of verifiable elimination of Russian 75 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
noncompliant cruise missiles might have safeguards by design (SBD) document resolved the INF Treaty dispute. series to assist nuclear facility designers and operators in contemplating, at an early https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/2019-07-15/ stage of the design process, the safeguards nato-secretary-general-stoltenbergs-inf-response- activities relevant to nuclear facilities, inadequate including spent fuel storage facilities.
U.S. Questions Russian CTBT Consideration of safeguards requirements Compliance prior to embarking on the construction or modification of a facility, a concept Daryl G. Kimball known as SBD, is voluntary and aims to Arms Control Association, July/August facilitate the improved implementation of existing safeguards requirements. A top U.S. intelligence official publicly However, if SBD is applied, safeguards accused Russia in May of not complying inspections can be implemented more with the 1996 Comprehensive Test Ban effectively and efficiently, while reducing Treaty (CTBT), raising concerns that the the burden on the operator of a facility. Trump administration may be considering https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/building- withdrawing from another multilateral safeguards-into-the-design-of-spent-fuel- arms control agreement. The allegation is a storage-facilities significant shift from recent U.S. government and intelligence community U. Interviews, Press Releases assessments. ElBaradei says U.S. exit from “Russia probably is not adhering to its nuclear testing moratorium in a manner nuclear deal lacks rationale, legal consistent with the ‘zero-yield’ standard” basis, and common sense outlined in the CTBT, said Lt. Gen. Robert Tehran Times, July 13, 2019 Ashley, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), in remarks to the Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of Hudson Institute May 29. the International Atomic Energy Agency, has described the U.S. President Donald https://www.armscontrol.org/act/2019-07/news/ Trump’s decision to withdraw from the us-questions-russian-ctbt-compliance 2015 nuclear deal, known as the JCPOA, when it was “working” as “lacking Building Safeguards Into the Design rationale, legal basis and any common of Spent Fuel Storage Facilities sense”.
Adem Mutluer In an interview with BBC Radio 4 published on Friday, he said that the U.S. IAEA Department of Safeguards, July 16, is applying waterboarding method to Iran 2019 by exerting economic pressure on the The IAEA works to enhance the contribution country. of nuclear technology to peace and “They are applying a waterboarding prosperity around the world, while verifying method to Iran, drowning Iran and then that nuclear material is not diverted from looking and then asking them: let’s have a peaceful use. IAEA safeguards, an important dialogue without any preconditions,” he part of the global nuclear non-proliferation said. regime, provide for independent verification of States’ compliance with their https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/438087/ international legal obligations. To help with ElBaradei-says-U-S-exit-from-nuclear-deal- this, the IAEA issues guidance through its lacks-rationale-legal 76 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
‘Hell broke loose’: Yashwant Sinha In terms of global strategic architecture, recalls time of India’s nuclear test China, Russia, and the US are crucial to the world. How can Beijing and Moscow Business Standard, July 14, 2019 deepen cooperation? How will the 2020 US presidential elections affect Russia-US A few days before India conducted nuclear ties? Global Times (GT) reporter Lu tests on May 11, 1998, the then prime Yuanzhi talked to Andrey Kortunov minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked his (Kortunov), director general of the Russian finance minister Yashwant Sinha to remain International Affairs Council, on these prepared to deal with backlash from the issues at the sidelines of the Eighth World world powers, especially in the economic Peace Forum held in Beijing recently. field. GT: Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a Sinha was summoned to Vajpayee’s visit to Moscow in June and both sides residence one morning in early May 1998. agreed to upgrade their comprehensive When he reached there, he was taken to the strategic partnership of coordination for prime minister’s bedroom. a new era. Where are bilateral ties I guessed immediately that what he was headed? about to tell me was not only important but Kortunov: It will partially depend on the also highly confidential, Sinha recalls, overall development of the international adding Vajpayee then broke a piece of system, because many things remain stunning news that left him feeling both unclear, including fundamental challenges proud and shaken. and opportunities for Chinese-Russian I have decided to go for nuclear tests in the cooperation. However, it’s important the next few days. It is a highly secret operation two countries are committed to long-term because the world powers are not going to shared approaches and future vision, such like it. They may take punitive action against as how to reconcile the China-proposed us, especially in the economic field. Belt and Road Initiative with Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union, or how to So, we must be prepared to meet any handle international crises that might challenge the move would throw up on the affect both sides. For instance, Americans economic front. I thought I should warn you are likely to leave Afghanistan before too in advance, so that you are not taken by long; Russians and Chinese are already surprise when it happens, Vajpayee told working on how they could jointly prevent Sinha. Islamic fundamentalism from spreading to their territories or to neighboring It took Sinha some time to absorb the full countries. import of what Vajpayee had told him so calmly. It seems likely Moscow and Beijing will deepen cooperation not only in security, Sinha recollects this incident in his but also in development and high-tech autobiography Relentless, which is areas. For example, Huawei is now under scheduled to be launched on Monday. attack from Washington, and the US has threatened to block it from Google https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti- software. Russia and China can work stories/be-ready-for-economic-backlash-vajpayee- together on alternative software for told-me-before-nuke-tests-yaswant- smartphones and on other things much 119071400246_1.html more sophisticated, including AI.
China, Russia and US define world GT: Russian President Vladimir Putin order said he will step down when his term ends in 2024. Without Putin as president, Global Times, July 16, 2019 will China-Russia relations change? 77 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
Kortunov: It will be one of the most do not know who will win. Today, it important tasks of Putin to make sure his seems likely Trump will be re-elected successor has good relations with the because the US economy is doing well. He Chinese leadership. I suppose he will invest is also smart enough not to engage the US plenty of time and effort in continuing the into another bloody and expensive war. kind of personal chemistry he enjoys with President Xi. Trump is thinking mostly about his re- election, so he has to be nice to all political However, it’s not just about leadership and social groups within the US that might change. It’s about how we can adjust our impact voters. This consideration clearly respective economic and social systems so affects his foreign policy decisions on they will be more compatible than they are China, Russia, the EU, or whatever. If he now. There are many things to work on is re-elected, we will see a president no here. One of the challenges is to go beyond longer constrained by election the primary public sector cooperation and considerations. We do not know for sure incentivize small- and medium-sized who this unleashed Trump will likely enterprises from the two countries to work become and what kind of policies he together. would make.
GT: US President Donald Trump met Putin Our country is perceived as evil or at least in Osaka, Japan. Putin said Russia would Putin is perceived as evil. I do not think do all it could to upgrade US relations, but this negative attitude will change fast. it was up to the US to decide how to That is why relations between Russia and develop bilateral relations. How do you the US will be on a bumpy road long after interpret Putin’s statement? 2020, no matter who comes to the White House. Kortunov: Putin’s message is clear. When Putin thought Washington was ready to GT: The Intermediate-Range Nuclear work with Russia, he made a couple of Forces Treaty (INF) may cease to exist specific proposals to Trump. For instance, from August 2. How will it affect Putin offered practical ways in which both geopolitics? sides could strengthen strategic arms control. There were specific proposals on Kortunov: The absence of INF may put into Syria, Iran, and North Korea. However, motion a chain reaction. With INF gone, Putin made it clear he would not deviate it becomes very difficult to extend the New from defending Russia’s basic principles and START. If the New START ceases to exist, interests. it might mean the end for the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT). If there is no It is up to the US to take it or to leave it. If NPT around, the Comprehensive Nuclear- the White House is ready to extend the New Test-Ban Treaty may be the next chip to Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New fall. It resembles a house of cards. If you START) agreement or work with the take one card out, the whole house will Kremlin on Syria, the Russian side will go collapse. From this viewpoint, the death the extra mile to accommodate the US. If of INF is very risky because it might lead the US is not ready, Moscow will wait. This us into a world without any arms control pause is regrettable, but it is not the end of whatsoever, not just a world with no the world. Russia can provide for its security bilateral US-Russia arms control even without the New START and can agreements. handle Syria with other partners. It is up to the US to decide what to do. GT: How would relations among China, the US, and Russia affect world order? GT: How will the 2020 US presidential elections affect relations with Russia? Kortunov: They would have a very important impact because these countries Kortunov: It is hard to tell because so far we define the rules of the game. For example, 78 Volume 11, Number 14 July 31, 2018
if Russia and the US do not want to disarm, V. Reports nobody will be ready to disarm. If China and the US cannot agree on free trade, who BP Statistical Review of World would agree? Energy
th The united world that we know today might BP, 68 edition, 2019 well split into a number of competing blocs. In particular, the data compiled in this This is not a very bright prospect for anyone. year’s Review suggest that in 2018, global If there is a technological war between energy demand and carbon emissions Beijing and Washington, other countries from energy use grew at their fastest rate cannot sit on the fence, they will have to since 2010/11, moving even further away choose their side in this war. from the accelerated transition envisaged The three countries should act on the by the Paris climate goals. BP’s economics assumption that they understand their team estimate that much of the rise in responsibilities. They should set a good energy growth last year can be traced back example on how to make compromises to weather-related effects, as families and among themselves, but also on how to take businesses increased their demand for interests of smaller states into account. If the cooling and heating in response to an three of us fail to do that, the world will not unusually large number of hot and cold be a safe and sustainable place. days. The acceleration in carbon emissions was the direct result of this increased http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/ energy consumption. 1158123.shtml https://www.bp.com/content/dam/bp/business- sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/ statistical-review/bp-stats-review-2019-full- report.pdf 79 Nuclear, Missile & Space Digest
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