Digests and Blog

This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms control in the coming days, as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association. For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. Available in print/digital and digital-only subscriptions. -- the Editors at Arms Control Today Iran and IAEA to Meet on Feb. 8 Representatives of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will meet on Feb. 8 to discuss options for completing the agency's investigation into Iran's…

By Ashley Luer It has been more than a year since the White House announced that it would "soon" be releasing the results of a U.S. Landmine Policy review that was launched early in President Obama's first term in office. Since 2009, the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) has been urging the Obama administration to conclude its review and to join the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, typically referred to as the "Ottawa Convention" or "Mine Ban Treaty." The Mine Ban Treaty requires that…

This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms control in the coming days, as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association. For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. Available in print/digital and digital-only subscriptions. - the Editors at Arms Control Today Feb. 4: Senate Hearing on "Negotiations on Iran's Nuclear Program" With the formal implementation of the "first phase" agreement on Iran's nuclear program underway, attention is now turning to the…

By Greg Thielmann On Jan. 29, The Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, provided testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence implicitly contradicting the arguments of those criticizing the Joint Plan of Action now being implemented by Iran and its six negotiating partners. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper testifies on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, before the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Clapper repeated the conclusion, first published in a 2007 national intelligence assessment, that "...Iran has the scientific…

By Tom Z. Collina In the wake of alarming reports that some Air Force nuclear-armed missile operators have been cheating on performance tests, using drugs, napping on duty, failing to follow safety rules, and more, the Pentagon announced Jan. 23 it is setting up an independent review of all U.S. nuclear forces, to be completed in 90 days. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says he is "deeply concerned" about "the overall health, and the professionalism, and discipline of our strategic forces." But the scope of this review—limited to personnel issues—must be expanded. At its core, the problems…

This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms control in the coming days, as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association. For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. The entire January/February 2014 issue is now available online for all ACA members and digital subscribers. – the Editors at Arms Control Today IAEA Goes Underground Nuclear inspectors will visit Iran's Gchine uranium mine in coming days, according to Yukiya Amano, director general of the…

By Daryl G. Kimball Today, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has begun to implement measures that will reduce its potential to produce material for nuclear weapons in accordance with the Nov. 24 "Joint Plan of Action" negotiated with the P5+1 states (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States). In a short report issued today, the IAEA also noted that it has begun daily inspections at the Natanz and Fordow enrichment facilities. Similar reports will be issued approximately once a month to monitor Iran's…

This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms control in the coming days, as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association. For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. The entire January/February 2014 issue is now available online for all ACA members and digital subscribers. – the Editors at Arms Control Today Jan. 20: First-phase of Iran nuclear agreement goes into effect Formal implementation of the Nov. 24 agreement between the P5+1 and Iran to limit key…

This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms control in the coming days,as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association. For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. The entire January/February 2014 issue is now available online for all ACA members and digital subscribers. – the Editors at Arms Control Today P5+1 and Iran Resolve Issues on Implementation of Nov. 24 First Phase Deal Earlier today in Geneva, negotiators announced they had resolved the…

This bulletin highlights significant events in the world of arms control in the coming days, as compiled by staff and friends of the Arms Control Association. For more news and analysis on these and other weapons-related security issues, consider subscribing to ACA's monthly journal Arms Control Today. Available in print/digital and digital-only subscriptions. -- the Editors at Arms Control Today Negotiators Close to Iran Accord Diplomats from world powers and Iran say they are close to reaching agreement on the implementation steps for their first phase agreement on pausing key elements of…