TOP NEWS Iran’s Khamenei says building, using nuclear bomb is forbidden under its religion: TV Reuters North Korea threatens to resume nuclear, long-range missile tests Al Jazeera Trump and Tehran shake up the Middle East New York Times United States U.S. nuclear, uranium mining industries hope for Trump bailout Associated Press10/9/19 A plea from uranium mining companies and nuclear power plant operators for tax breaks and other federal financial boosts is going before President Donald Trump, as his administration studies reviving the U.S. uranium industry in the name of national security. Middle East Iran’s Khamenei says building, using nuclear bomb is forbidden under its religion: TV Reuters10/9/19 Despite having nuclear technology, Iran has never pursued building or using nuclear weapons, which its religion forbids, the country’s highest political authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on Wednesday. East Asia North Korea threatens to resume nuclear, long-range missile tests Al Jazeera10/10/19 Pyongyang’s warning follows the weekend breakdown of North Korea-US nuclear talks in Sweden. North Korea says may reconsider steps to build trust with U.S.: KCNA Reuters10/10/19 North Korea said on Thursday its patience has limits and it could reverse steps to build trust with the United States, as it criticized a U.N. Security Council call for it to cease its weapons programs and denounced a U.S. missile test. ASDF holds PAC-3 missile defense drill in Tokyo after spate of North Korean launches Japan Times10/9/19 The Air Self-Defense Force carried out a quick deployment drill for its Patriot Advanced Capability-3, or PAC-3, missile interceptors in Tokyo on Wednesday, in order to maintain readiness for missile defense operations. Russia/Europe Norway’s increased military budget omits NATO missile defense system United Press International10/9/19 Norway will increase its 2020 defense budget by $218 million, the government announced, but it does not include participation in NATO’s missile defense system. The Russian navy is building new (heavily armed) nuclear-powered submarines National Interest10/8/19 The Russian navy is building new nuclear-powered submarines and deploying them more aggressively, seemingly reviving a Cold War approach to naval warfare. Analysis/Commentary Whither nuclear arms control Project SyndicateBennett Ramberg 10/9/19 The purpose of nuclear-arms control is obvious, but the means of achieving it have become more complicated than ever. What worked in the past may not work in the present, and tactics to rein in one country could prove disastrous if pursued with others. Can Pakistan mediate between Iran and the United States? War on the RocksAdam Weinstein 10/9/19 During the U.N. General Assembly last month, reports circulated that Saudi and U.S. officials asked Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan to mediate between the Trump administration and Iran. Inside the U.S. Missile Defense Agency’s secret next generation interceptor ForbesLoren Thompson 10/8/19 A draft solicitation for a Next Generation Interceptor described a much more capable system for negating North Korean attacks, specifying nearly 50 threat scenarios in which the new system would need to work effectively. Don’t let Trump’s impeachment undermine a deal with North Korea NewsweekElizabeth Beavers and Catherine Killough 10/8/19 Two major events just happened: The House of Representatives launched impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, and negotiators from the U.S. and North Korea hit a hiccup in their renewed talks. These developments might seem totally unrelated, but, in fact, they’re on a likely collision course. Trump and Tehran shake up the Middle East New York TimesThomas Friedman 10/8/19 The Iranians are emboldened, the Arabs are frightened and Israel and Iran are one miscalculation away from a war of precision missiles that neither can afford.