By all indications it looks like the Senate will be holding off on new Iran sanctions, at least for the time being. Whether this means the rest of 2013 or the first six months of 2014 has yet to be seen. One report seems to imply that Senate Democrats have decided to side with the President on the issue, and statements from many top Democrats in recent days would suggest that’s the case.
Death of One Deal Makes Room for Another
“White House and congressional leadership from pro-diplomacy Senators has created an opportunity for one of the most important foreign policy initiatives in a decade to succeed: a diplomatic solution addressing Iran’s nuclear program,” said Laicie Heeley, Director of Middle East and Defense Policy at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “The only good option on the table to address Iran’s nuclear program is diplomatic engagement. We are excited to see the Senate siding with the President and the American people on this issue.”
Center Releases In-Depth Study of the Conference Version of the FY2013 NDAA
“While the NDAA covers a broad spectrum of national security issues, the House version raised some serious concern for the future of nuclear weapons and non-proliferation programs,” said John Isaacs, Executive Director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation. “Fortunately, the conferees watered down or eliminated many of the objectionable nuclear provisions including limitations on the implementation of the New START treaty.”
Strategy, Not Cold War Ideology, Should Guide Conferees on Defense Bill
“The Republican leadership seems stuck in the Cold War, authorizing hundreds of million on nuclear weapons and missile defense programs that military leaders did not request,” said Reif. “Pentagon spending should be driven by strategic need and affordability.”
A Nuclear-Armed Iran: How Would Israel Respond?
In the last few years, one of the main topics of speculation regarding a potential weaponization of Iran’s nuclear program has been Israel’s likely response to an Iranian nuclear bomb.
