Top News: Iran and Russia discuss ties, the Middle East, and nuclear deal Aljazeera Biden distances U.S. from attack on Iran nuclear facility at Natanz U.S. News and World Report ANALYSIS: Countering the risk of North Korean nuclear weapons RAND United States Biden distances U.S. from attack on Iran nuclear facility at Natanz U.S. News and World Report4/12/21 The provocative act of sabotage, apparently by Israel, will affect U.S. attempts to broker a nuclear deal with Iran, analysts and officials say Attack on Iranian nuclear facility complicates Biden’s diplomatic outreach to Tehran, experts say Yahoo News4/12/21 While White House press secretary Jen Psaki denied Monday any U.S. involvement in a Sunday explosion that damaged an Iranian nuclear facility, the incident may complicate the Biden administration’s efforts to bring Tehran’s government back to the negotiating table. East Asia China warns of action over Japan’s decision to dump radioactive Fukushima water into the sea South China Morning Post4/13/21 Beijing among several of Japan’s neighbors expressing concern and regret about Tokyo’s announcement it will release contaminated water in two years. ANALYSIS: Countering the risk of North Korean nuclear weapons RAND4/12/21 North Korea’s leaders have sought to dominate the Korean Peninsula since their failure to conquer the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the Korean War. OPINION: Biden’s pragmatic play on North Korea The HillMatt Abbott 4/12/21 In his first press conference as president, Joe Biden affirmatively answered a question about whether North Korea is “the top foreign policy issue that he was watching.” Middle East Iran and Israel’s shadow war takes a dangerous turn BBC4/12/21 Iran has blamed Israel for a mysterious explosion at the weekend that knocked out power at its uranium enrichment facility at Natanz. Attack on Iran’s Natanz plant muddies U.S.-Iran nuclear talks Associated Press4/13/21 The attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility is casting a major shadow over the resumption of indirect talks between the U.S. and Iran over resurrection of the international accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program. Russia and Europe Iran and Russia discuss ties, the Middle East, and nuclear deal Aljazeera4/13/21 FM Lavrov says Russia shares Iran’s stance on reviving the nuclear deal and believes any potential additional agreements dealing with the region need to be reached separately. Iran, Russia show united front against West on nuclear deal France 244/13/21 Russia put on a united front with Iran against the United States and Europe Tuesday amid talks in Vienna on bringing Washington back into a troubled 2015 nuclear deal. OPINION: China and Russia will keep Iran from building a bomb The HillSeth Frantzman 4/12/21 The U.S. pursuit of a return to the Iran deal has received new strength after recent talks in Vienna appeared to indicate that working groups might bring Tehran and Washington closer to a series of agreements.