TOP NEWS A hostage negotiator, an embattled ambassador, a nuclear envoy: Who might replace John Bolton? Washington Post Trump flirts with $15 billion bailout for Iran, sources say Daily Beast South Korea’s top nuclear envoy visits Beijing for talks on North Korea Korea Herald United States A hostage negotiator, an embattled ambassador, a nuclear envoy: Who might replace John Bolton? Washington Post9/12/19 A replacement for Bolton will be announced as soon as next week, Trump said Wednesday, adding that at least five people are interested in the job — people he described as “very highly qualified, good people I’ve gotten to know over the last three years.” Bolton is gone, but tensions with Iran remain high Foreign Policy9/12/19 The departure of Trump’s hawkish national security advisor raised hopes in Washington, but a sudden thaw with Tehran is unlikely. Middle East Saudi Arabia calls for new accord to control Iran’s nuclear, regional ambitions Radio Farda9/12/19 Saudi Arabia has called on the world community to confront Iran’s radicalism and Tehran’s violation of its nuclear obligations. Trump flirts with $15 billion bailout for Iran, sources say Daily Beast9/12/19 Trump says he hates the Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran. But he’s toying with a French proposal to get the Iranians to comply with it: a $15 billion line of credit to Tehran. East Asia Trump: Bolton ‘set back’ North Korea diplomacy by bringing up Libya CNS News9/12/19 President Trump said Wednesday his now-departed National Security Advisor John Bolton had “set back” his North Korean outreach efforts by suggesting that a nuclear deal with Pyongyang follow the “Libyan model.” South Korea’s top nuclear envoy visits Beijing for talks on North Korea Korea Herald9/13/19 South Korea’s chief nuclear envoy has held talks with a senior Chinese diplomat over North Korea and peninsula issues ahead of an expected resumption of nuclear dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang, Seoul’s foreign ministry said Friday. Russia/Europe Russian deputy foreign minister warns of nuclear war risk Xinhua9/12/19 The risk of a nuclear war in modern times exists due to the policy of some Western countries, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Thursday. Commentary/Opinion/Analysis While Trump shrugs, North Korea’s building better missiles Daily BeastDonald Kirk 9/13/19 As new working level talks loom, Bolton was right to worry. But Kim Jong Un hated him. So will Kim have a vote on the next national security adviser? United Kingdom: Nuclear weapon command, control, and communications Nautilus InstituteJohn Gower 9/12/19 Through multiple paths and frequencies, fall-back and alternative systems and with dedicated and unique encryption and processes it delivers continuous availability for the Prime Minister should a decision to launch be made. Why American subs are training to fight Russia in the arctic circle National InterestKris Osborn 9/12/19 Navy fast-attack submarines have been firing torpedoes beneath the Arctic ice as part of large scale effort to speed up preparations for war in the region in response to growing tensions with Russia and the increasing pace of melting ice. Why Israel would start a nuclear war National InterestRobert Farley 9/12/19 Israel’s missile defenses, air defenses, and delivery systems are far too sophisticated to imagine a scenario in which any country other than one of the major nuclear powers could manage a disarming first strike. How Iran’s nuclear breakout easily could become a ‘sneakout’ The HillJonathan Ruhe 9/12/19 The current U.S. approach is driving events toward one of three unpalatable outcomes: further Iranian progress toward a bomb; a European-Iranian deal on sanctions relief that effectively restores the status quo-ante of the JCPOA and flouts the entire U.S. sanctions regime; or renewed negotiations under the shadow of Iran’s nuclear escalations and serious rifts between the United States and its diplomatic partners.