IAEA inspectors have confirmed that the NORKs have shut down 15-20 MWt reactor at Yongbyon. That’s a welcome bit of news, as they go about verifying the freeze that North Korea will place on five of its nuclear facilities (the three reactors, plus the fuel fabrication and reprocessing facilities). But what really struck me is …
Putin Suspends CFE
by | 2007-07-14 | 4 Comments
The Kremlin has issued a decree suspending Russia’s participation in the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty (CFE). The link is to the Russian, and the English should be up shortly at www.kremlin.ru. From Reuters: The decree suspended Russia’s role in the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE) pact, adopted in 1990 to limit the number of …
IAEA to Visit Arak
by | 2007-07-13 | 14 Comments
The IAEA announces, and ISNA confirms, that IAEA inspectors will be able to visit the 40 MW Heavy Water Reactor near Arak. I am deeply suspicious of this reactor—which looks a lot like the reactors that were used in India, Israel Pakistan and Taiwan’s bomb programs. Getting the IAEA in, along with appropriate monitoring arrangements, …
Iranian Bomb: Still 2010-2015?
by | 2007-07-12 | 9 Comments
I’ve been waiting for press reports to see if the much awaited NIE on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs has been completed and, if so, whether the IC has moved up its estimates on when Iran could, or is likely to, acquire a bomb. No announcement came, but on June 2 SECDEF Bob Gates …
