Iran: Sanctions “Will Hurt,” But Not Too Much

Iranian President Ahmadinejad

While Iranian President Ahmadinejad urges Iranians to celebrate the country’s nuclear program on “National Nuclear Day,” the rest of the world is coming together under U.S. leadership to condemn it – and to press for tougher new sanctions aimed at stopping Iran.

The United States is hosting one of the largest international summits ever this week to discuss nuclear nonproliferation and ways to keep loose nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists.

Among the countries not invited is Iran, which the Unites States believes may be trying to make a nuclear weapon, despite frequent claims to the contrary.

Defense Officials Clarify Nuclear Review

After the recent release of the Nuclear Posture Review, defense officials had discussions about the specifics regarding the review.  Bradley H. Roberts, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense, and Navy Adm. John E. Roberti, deputy director for strategy and policy for the Joint Staff, spoke with journalist yesterday to clarify the logistics of the plan.

The Nuclear Posture Review has laid out a roadmap for the United States to follow in future nuclear dealings, and it also has raised a lot of questions in the public forum.

Bradley H. Roberts, deputy assistant secretary of defense for nuclear and missile defense, and Navy Adm. John E. Roberti, deputy director for strategy and policy for the Joint Staff, spoke with journalists on a DoDLive Bloggers’ Roundtable yesterday to clarify the particulars of the review.

Ike Skelton on New START Treaty

House Armed Services Committee

Ike Skelton, Chairman

Skelton Statement on New START Treaty

Washington, D.C.—Today, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) released the statement below following President Obama’s announcement that the U.S. and Russia reached a nuclear arms deal:

“The President’s announcement that the U.S. has reached a nuclear arms agreement with Russia is a welcome addition to our continuing work to strengthen U.S. national security. Although I have not yet had an opportunity to review the New START Treaty, I am encouraged that an agreement has been reached and will closely examine this treaty in the days ahead.

“I view this agreement as a positive development that should benefit U.S., Russian, and global security as whole.   The agreement will send a clear message to the world, and should assist President Obama in his efforts to impose stiffer punishments on nations accused of violating the Non-Proliferation Treaty when he meets with that treaty’s signatory nations in May.”

US-Russian Deal On Nukes Nearly Completed

U.S. Sect. of State Hillary Clinton & Russian Foreign Minster Sergey Lavrov

Negotiations for the START follow-on treaty between the U.S. and Russia could be coming to a close soon. Both sides claim that they are close to a deal, and that they are stuck on technical issues, not political ones. This follows what U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said following talks in Moscow last week; that a deal was near – but not done.

Nearly a year after President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered negotiators to work on a new treaty to reduce their nuclear arsenals, the two countries say they are finally close to completing a deal.

A deal – a small but important step toward Obama’s goal of a nuclear arms-free world – could build momentum and trust toward resolving other key nuclear issues. They range from how to pressure Iran and North Korea to abandon their nuclear ambitions to reducing the number of tactical nuclear weapons that are so unpopular in Europe. It could also set a positive tone for a key conference on nuclear non-proliferation this spring.