State Dept. says it will impose “snap back” sanctions on Iran, despite US withdrawal from Nuclear Deal

As the US believes Iran has continued to develop nuclear weapons, and as the United Nations arms embargo on Iran expires next month, the State Department announced Wednesday that it is pressing forward with “snap back” sanctions that are provided for under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) Iran Nuclear deal, Fox News reports. Under the terms of the JCPoA, snapback sanctions can be re-imposed if Iran is perceived to be violating the terms of the agreement. However, as the Trump administration withdrew from the JCPoA in 2018, UNSC members Britain, China, France, Germany, and Russia have unequivocally stated the US has no authority to unilaterally enforce snapback sanctions once the current embargo is lifted on October 18.

Pentagon sees China military on track for global superpower status

China is on track to double the size of its nuclear warhead stockpile while expanding foreign military bases capable of attacking the United States — worrying signs that Beijing is seeking global superpower status, the Pentagon warned in its annual survey of the Chinese military released Tuesday.

UCLA researcher arrested for destroying hard drive possibly used in transferring data to China

A researcher from UCLA has been arrested on suspicion of destroying a hard drive that may be pertinent to an FBI investigation into Chinese theft of sensitive software and technical data, the College Fix reported Monday. Researcher Guan Lei is suspected of having destroying and throwing away the hard drive on July 25, a few days after being interviewed by investigators.

UN security council rejects US call for sanctions against Iran

The president of the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday rejected the Trump administration’s demand to restore all U.N. sanctions on Iran, a move that drew an angry rebuke from the U.S. ambassador who accused opponents of supporting “terrorists.”

US, Russia still at odds over new nuclear arms treaty

United States and Russia concluded two days of arms control talks Tuesday with the two sides still at odds over the US demand to include China in any new treaty, but showing signs of a possible willingness to extend the existing New START deal, which expires next year.

Six Arab ask United Nations to extend arms embargo on Iran

Six Arab Gulf countries sided with the US in sending a letter to the United Nations Saturday, asking for a continued arms embargo on Iran, the Washington Examiner reports. The embargo was scheduled to expire once the 2015 Iran deal comes into force.

Trump, US face pivotal UN vote on Iran

The Trump administration’s Iran strategy will face a key test this week as the United States calls for a vote at the United Nations on its resolution to extend an arms embargo against the Islamic Republic.

Trump and Putin talk on phone about arms control and COVID-19 economic recovery

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone Thursday and discussed arms control and economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Washington Times reports. Although this is the first time the two leaders have talked since allegations emerged that Russia had offered bounties for Afghan militants to kill US soldiers, neither the White House nor the Kremlin made mention of this issue in their statements about the call.

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