Top News: Iran’s hardline president-elect rules out meeting with Biden as nuclear talks paused for “decision making” CBS Pentagon pulls missile defense, other systems from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries CNN Summit over, Putin and Biden cite gains, but tensions are clear New York Times United States Pentagon pulls missile defense, other systems from Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries CNN6/18/21 The Pentagon is pulling missile defense systems and other military hardware and personnel from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, according to a defense official, as it realigns its mission and forces to confront China and Russia. Summit over, Putin and Biden cite gains, but tensions are clear New York Times6/18/21 President Putin denied Russian responsibility for a surge in cyberattacks, but President Biden hinted at U.S. retaliation if they did not cease. East Asia North Korea attempted to hack South Korea’s nuclear think tank, lawmaker says ABC6/19/21 A known North Korean hacker group is allegedly responsible. North Korea’s Kim vows to be ready for confrontation with the U.S. NPR6/18/21 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his government to be prepared for both dialogue and confrontation with the Biden administration — but more for confrontation, state media reported Friday. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un signals willingness to resume nuclear talks Wall Street Journal6/18/21 At a meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party, leader says the country should prepare for diplomacy and confrontation with U.S. Top Chinese nuclear scientist found dead under mysterious circumstances Business Standard6/19/21 One of China’s top nuclear scientists and the Vice-President of Harbin Engineering University has died after falling from a building. ANALYSIS: China’s atomic pessimism and the future of arms control War on the RocksHenrik Stalhane Hiim, Magnus Langset Troan 6/21/21 For any effort to engage China to be successful, it is vital to understand how Chinese strategists and experts regard nuclear arms control. Middle East In a first, Iran’s sole nuclear power plant undergoes emergency shutdown NPR6/21/21 Iran’s sole nuclear power plant has undergone an unexplained temporary emergency shutdown, the country’s state TV reported. Diplomats meet in Vienna for more Iran nuclear talks CNBC6/20/21 Senior diplomats from China, Germany, France, Russia and Britain met at a hotel in the Austrian capital for the final meeting of the sixth round of talks in Vienna. Iran’s hardline president-elect rules out meeting with Biden as nuclear talks paused for “decision making” CBS6/21/21 Iran’s president-elect Ebrahim Raisi has wasted no time in setting out his hardline agenda. Raisi said on Monday that he would not meet with President Joe Biden even if the opportunity arose. OPINION: For Biden, Iranian hard-liner may be best path to restroing nuclear deal New York TimesDavid Sanger, Farnaz Fassihi 6/21/21 The next six weeks before a new government takes office in Tehran may be a unique window for clinching an agreement that Iran’s leadership has been delaying.