UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO ESCALATE SITUATION WITH IRAN
On Saturday, September 19 at 8 p.m. EST, the United States declared a successful snapback of all UN Security Council resolutions on Iran and two days later threatened to sanction any country that deviated from its world view. This exceptional claim comes in anticipation of the scheduled expiration of a UN arms embargo in October that the United States argues “will now be re-imposed indefinitely.” Within hours, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council that he would not take any action because “there would appear to be uncertainty” on the issue. Enforcement of the arms embargo may be challenged by a small Russian or Chinese firm in protest, but most countries will likely go into a holding pattern before the November election.
PENTAGON BUDGET BATTLE WON’T END BEFORE ELECTION
The House and Senate will have to find common ground on several issues when negotiating the final version of the $740.5 billion defense bill. There are myriad policy differences between the two versions of the bill, including funding for explosive nuclear weapons testing, support for continued arms control, and required reports on various countries’ nuclear programs. The final bill is unlikely before late November or December.
NEW PODCAST EPISODE: THE PRESIDENT AND THE NUCLEAR BUTTON
With the 2020 presidential election looming large, it’s a good time to take a look at the absolute power the President of the United States has over U.S. nuclear weapons. In the latest Nukes of Hazard episode, Policy Analyst and Host Geoff Wilson sat down with Dr. Alex Wellerstein, a historian of science at the Stevens Institute of Technology, to discuss the history of presidential launch authority, how our nuclear launch system actually works, and what steps we could take to make it more democratic. Listen now or subscribe to Nukes of Hazard wherever you get your podcasts.
YOUR CHANGE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
We know times are hard for many people right now, but if you are able, please consider using the Center’s new fundraising feature that allows you to donate to us your spare change from purchases made with your credit or debit card. You can set a monthly limit for the amount of change you’d like to donate so you never exceed your comfort level. You can also simply make a one-time donation or set up a monthly donation. Your generosity enables us to continue our work of educating Members of Congress, the media and the public about critical nuclear weapons and national security issues so they can act to prevent and eventually eliminate nuclear threats.
WHAT ELSE?
India, China, Pakistan: Three nuclear powers hurtling towards the boiling point, writes Program Coordinator Abby Pokraka.
2020 Election Could Decide Whether US Pursues Nuclear Escalation or Arms Control, featuring Senior Policy Director Alexandra Bell.
How Putin Borrowed a Page From Assad’s Chemical Weapon Playbook, writes Gregory Koblentz, a member of the Center’s Scientists Working Group on Biological and Chemical Weapons Control.
How the Arms Trade Treaty has influenced the US-China diplomatic chessboard, write Research Analyst Samuel Hickey and former intern Jessica Budlong.
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