Top News: Biden promised to restore the Iran nuclear deal. Now it risks derailment. The New York Times South Korea seeks to improve ties despite North’s threat Associated Press OPINION: How to counter Iran’s missiles and proxies Bloomberg United States Top U.S. Iran envoy having doubts about nuke deal The Jerusalem Post8/2/21 With incoming president Ebrahim Raisi taking power later this week, U.S. diplomats are worried about the future of Iran Deal negotiations. Biden promised to restore the Iran nuclear deal. Now it risks derailment. The New York Times7/31/21 Both sides have much to lose if a delicate negotiation over limiting Iran’s activities in return for a lifting of sanctions falls short. ANALYSIS: U.S., Russia strategic stability meeting held in geneva Arms Control NowKingston Reif and Shannon Bugos 7/30/21 During the “professional and substantive” talks July 28 in Geneva, “the U.S. delegation discussed U.S. policy priorities and the current security environment, national perceptions of threats to strategic stability, prospects for new nuclear arms control, and the format for future Strategic Stability Dialogue sessions,” said State Department Spokesperson Ned Price. East Asia South Korea seeks to improve ties despite North’s threat Associated Press8/2/21 South Korea said Monday it’ll keep pushing to improve ties and resume talks with rival North Korea, despite the North’s threat to rekindle animosities if Seoul holds its summertime military drills with the United States. Middle East ANALYSIS: Nuclear talks await Iran’s new president to take the helm, as do Tehran-backed Iraqi militias HaaretzZvi Bar’el 8/1/21 It seems as if Iran will return to negotiations in Vienna on its nuclear program, but armed Shi’ite groups in Iraq could threaten any potential agreement by launching anti-American attacks. OPINION: Iran’s gift to President Biden The Wall Street JournalWSJ 8/1/21 A new demand opens the door to a new nuclear deal. OPINION: Another Iran message for Biden The Wall Street JournalThe Editorial Board 8/1/21 The U.S. fingers Tehran for another attack but still wants a nuclear deal. OPINION: How to counter Iran’s missiles and proxies BloombergEditorial Board 7/30/21 Prospects for reviving the Iran nuclear deal are getting murkier by the day. What seems clear, though, is that the U.S. is unlikely to secure a broader agreement that addresses Iran’s missile arsenal and network of heavily armed proxy forces. Finding other ways of containing and degrading those threats — all the more dangerous in combination — should be a priority. Russia BRIEFING: Russia and strategic non-nuclear deterrence Chatham HouseValeriy Akimenko 7/29/21 New developments in Russian long-range precision-guided weapons strongly support the idea that the country’s leadership has been giving a greater priority to non-nuclear strategic military deterrence. The cases of Ukraine and Syria demonstrate Russia’s willingness to use military force, and prove that its non-nuclear deterrent has matured from theoretical concept to firm reality.