Top News Nuclear modernization casts budget shadow over Air Force plans Breaking Defense Iran’s nuclear programme back in spotlight Rudaw Australia seeks to calm ASEAN nerves over AUKUS, nuclear weapons Nikkei Asia United States Nuclear modernization casts budget shadow over Air Force plans Breaking Defense9/20/21 The cost of Air Force nuclear modernization plans endangers other force modernization plans. Experiments informing nuclear command, control upgrades National Defense Magazine9/21/21 The head of Air Force Global Strike Command disclosed that the Defense Department is conducting various experiments to inform improvements to nuclear command and control. OPINION: Don’t let presidents start nuclear wars on their own BloombergEditorial Board 9/20/21 The process of nuclear first-strike authorization should include safeguards, such as certification by the Secretary of Defense or review by the Attorney General, to prevent unprovoked nuclear weapons use by the President. Middle East Iran’s nuclear programme back in spotlight Rudaw9/20/21 Between the IAEA’s annual conference and the Iranian President’s UN General Assembly address, Iran’s nuclear program has recaptured international attention. ANALYSIS: How to save the Iran Nuclear Deal Foreign AffairsAli Vaez, Vali Nasr 9/21/21 To save the JCPOA, the U.S. and Iran must make compromises and engage in meaningful dialogues on regional security. Russia and Europe No ministers’ meeting on Iran nuclear deal at U.N., says EU’s Borrell Reuters9/20/21 European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that representatives from Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia will not meet with Iran at the UN to discuss the nuclear deal, despite earlier tentative plans to do so. OPINION: Don’t diss the French Center for Strategic and International StudiesEliot Cohen 9/20/21 Given the importance of the Franco-American relationship, deft U.S. diplomacy should have accompanied the news of AUKUS. Pacific Australia seeks to calm ASEAN nerves over AUKUS, nuclear weapons Nikkei Asia9/21/21 Australia’s ambassador to ASEAN pledged that Australia will not seek nuclear weapons or change the regional security arrangement of the alliance. OPINION: Australia badly needs nuclear subs Foreign PolicyAndrew Erickson 9/20/21 The size of Australia’s maritime territory, paired with the rise of China, makes AUKUS necessary for Australia’s security.