Expanding Fissile Material Production: 09.14.09

As part of the kickoff for the new blog, PONI Debates the Issues will be expanding its "Fissile Material" feature. Based off of news gathered for an internally produced daily nuclear news document, the PDI blog will be posting daily the complete contents of the edition for that day.  Without further ado: 

5. Seoul mum on reported plans for 3rd NKorea nuke test

AFP

September 13, 2009

South Korean officials declined to comment Sunday on reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has called for a third nuclear test in protest at UN sanctions against the reclusive state.

MIDDLE EAST

6. Iran, world powers to meet over nuclear program

Associated Press by George Jahn

September 14, 2009

Iran will meet with world powers next month for the first time in more than a year in an attempt to reduce tensions over its refusal to curb nuclear activities, while Tehran warned Israel and the U.S. on Monday against a military strike.

7. Obama can't change Iran policy: Ahmadinejad aide

AFP

September 14, 2009

US President Barack Obama is a "prisoner" in the hands of "extremist Republicans" and is unable to change American policy towards Iran, a top aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad charged on Monday.

8. Iran ready to talk but not on nuclear issues: Ahmadinejad

AFP by Jay Deshmukh

September 13, 2009

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday that Iran was ready to talk with world powers on global issues but will not negotiate over Tehran's right to nuclear technology.

9. Iran urges disposal of all nuclear arms

Washington Post by Thomas Erdbrink

September 11, 2009

Iran is not prepared to discuss halting its uranium enrichment program in response to Western demands but is proposing instead a worldwide control system aimed at eliminating nuclear weapons, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's top political aide said in an interview Thursday.

RUSSIA/FSU

10. Russia Says No to Iran Nuclear Sanctions

Wall Street Journal by Michael Champion and Jay Solomon

September 11, 2009

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear Thursday that Moscow wouldn't back any new rounds of tough sanctions against Iran in the United Nations Security Council, and he dismissed a U.S. timetable for securing progress from Iran on ending its nuclear-fuel program.

11. IAEA ships lethal Lebanon cobalt to safety in Russia

Reuters

September 11, 2009

The U.N. nuclear watchdog has airlifted deadly radioactive cobalt materials out of Lebanon and sent it to Russia to ensure they did not fall into the wrong hands, the agency said on Thursday.

EUROPE

12. EU, Iran to discuss nuclear issues on Oct. 1

Associated Press

September 14, 2009

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

13. UN must empower IAEA, avoid more sanctions; Elbaradei

Reuters by Mark Heinrich

September 14, 2009

The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog urged the U.N. Security Council Monday to give it more powers to prevent the spread of atom bomb know-how and avoid relying on sanctions he said often did not work.

14. IAEA nations, but not Israel, fete El Baradei in sendoff

Reuters by Mark Heinrich

September 11, 2009

Some nations who once criticised Mohamed ElBaradei over his approach to Iran’s disputed nuclear programme joined a roomful of effusive tributes to the outgoing chief of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency on Thursday.

MISCELLANEOUS

15. Venezuela buys powerful missiles with Russian Loan

Buenos Aires Herald

September 14, 2009

Russia has agreed to lend Venezuela over US$2 billion to purchase tanks and advanced anti-aircraft missiles in deals that show Moscow's commitment to working closely with Washington-foe President Hugo Chávez.

16. Uranium Will Have 2010 Surplus on Increased Output, Group Says

Bloomberg

September 11, 2009

The uranium market will have a surplus next year for the first time in at least three years as Kazatomprom and other producers increase output faster than demand rises for the nuclear fuel, the World Nuclear Association said.

OPINION

17. Will Obama Come to Kim Jong-Il’s Rescue

Chosun Ilbo

September 14, 2009

The United States seems to have agreed to the bilateral dialogue that North Korea wanted so badly. The clue was perhaps in former U.S. President Bill Clinton's Pyongyang visit in early August. Voice of America on Saturday said Clinton proposed to Kim Jong-il a North Korea visit by the U.S. envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth.

18. Why Pakistan Won’t Help on Iran

Time by Omar Waraich

September 12, 2009

Iran's neighbors could play a decisive role in determining whether any sanctions aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions are effective — and one Iran neighbor from whom the U.S. should expect little support on the issue is Pakistan.