Top News IAEA voices serious concern at Iran’s stonewalling on old sites Reuters Russia supports experts’ call in support of nuclear tests ban TASS Asia-Pacific regional security assessment 2020 IISS United States OPINION: Trump apparently wants a nuclear test. It could be bad for your health. Bulletin of Atomic Scientists – Sara Kutchesfahani 6/5/20 In recent weeks, the Trump administration reportedly discussed the possibility of doing something the United States has not done since 1992: resuming explosive testing of nuclear weapons. OPINION: The Trump administration thinks it can win an arms race. Time for a history lesson. Bulletin of Atomic Scientists – David Cortright 6/5/20 It is impossible to respond to every distortion of reality emanating from the Trump administration, but sometimes a statement is so outrageous that it demands comment and correction. East Asia Asia-Pacific regional security assessment 2020 IISS6/5/20 The Asia-Pacific Regional Security Assessment 2020 investigates US–China great-power competition, US alliances and partnerships, and more. Russia and Europe Russia defends Iran satellite launch against U.S. opposition Associated Press6/4/20 Russia is defending Iran’s right to launch a satellite, dismissing U.S. claims that Tehran was defying the U.N. resolution endorsing the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers by sending it into space. UK notes Russia’s presidential decree on nuclear deterrence policy TASS6/3/20 “We note the publication of Russia’s Nuclear Deterrence Policy Framework. The UK will continue to work with NATO allies and other nuclear weapons states, including Russia, to uphold the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.” Russia supports experts’ call in support of nuclear tests ban TASS6/4/20 The experts stressed that the CTBT coming into force would lift concerns over the risk of possible nuclear tests, because the agreement envisages urgent inspections for investigating suspicious activity. Russia puts defensive face on its nuclear doctrine ahead of arms-control negotiations Defense One6/6/20 Moscow’s new strategic-arms decree appears to be an attempt to win advantage whether New START lives on or not. Multilateral Arms Control IAEA voices serious concern at Iran’s stonewalling on old sites Reuters6/5/20 The U.N. nuclear watchdog expressed serious concern on Friday that Iran has continued for months to deny it access to sites of interest to it, describing previous suspected activities there that could have been part of a nuclear weapons programme. The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs continues to fulfil its mandates and support member states United Nations6/4/20 Latest message on how Covid-19 is impacting multilateral disarmament and arms control.