Top News: U.S. plans sanctions against Iran’s drones and guided missiles The Wall Street Journal Amid tensions, U.S. and Russia hold ‘substantive’ arms talks Al Jazeera PODCAST: Why is China expanding its nuclear arsenal? The Daily, The New York Times United States U.S. plans sanctions against Iran’s drones and guided missiles The Wall Street Journal7/29/21 Western security officials say they view Iranian precision-strike capabilities as a bigger immediate threat than nuclear enrichment and ballistic missiles. U.S. warns Iran’s new government it won’t get a better nuclear deal Axios7/28/21 With the new Iranian government about to take office, U.S. officials are stressing that Iran won’t win more concessions by attempting to renegotiate the understandings reached in Vienna. Amid tensions, U.S. and Russia hold ‘substantive’ arms talks Al Jazeera7/28/21 The meeting between top diplomats led to no breakthroughs, although the two sides have agreed to meet again in September. OPINION: China is rapidly expanding its nuclear force: Should the U.S. be concerned? The HillPatty-Jane Geller 7/28/21 China’s rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal puts the United States’ modest nuclear modernization efforts into perspective. At the very least, proposals to cut current nuclear modernization programs should be put to rest. The U.S. would be better off debating ways we can adjust our capabilities to account for these changes. East Asia China’s new nuclear missile silos confirm U.S. defense officials’ fears Newsweek7/28/21 The Department of Defense is warning of the “growing threat the world faces” from China’s seemingly expanding nuclear arsenal after U.S.-based researchers discovered its vast new missile fields in July. PODCAST: Why is China expanding its nuclear arsenal? The Daily, The New York Times7/29/21 The nation appears to be undertaking the most significant expansion in the history of its nuclear weapons program. Middle East Nuclear deadlock? Iran envoy says U.S. won’t lift sanctions on 500 entities Iran International7/29/21 The United States is refusing to lift sanctions on 500 Iranian individuals or entities in returning to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, has said. Khamenei adds to doubts on Iran nuclear deal talks The New York Times7/28/21 “Trust in the West does not work,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said, signaling further problems with stalled negotiations to salvage the country’s nuclear agreement. ANALYSIS: Is Iran bluffing about its enriched uranium stockpile? Foreign PolicyBlaise Misztal and Jonathan Ruhe 7/28/21 Tehran’s numbers don’t add up. They seem to be exaggerated to pressure Biden for sanctions relief. Russia and Europe Russia touts Britain, France for wider nuclear talks Reuters7/29/21 Russia said on Thursday that it wanted Britain and France to be included in wider nuclear arms control talks with the United States, while it said that Washington wanted China to be included.