DefenceTalkTel Aviv: The Iran nuclear deal does not mean military action is off the table when it comes to stopping Tehran from obtaining an atomic bomb, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said Sunday ahead of a visit to Israel. “One of the reasons why this deal is a good one is that it does nothing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-chief-says-iran-nuclear-deal-does-not-prevent-military-option-64909/

DefenceTalkVienna: Major powers and Iran struck a historic deal Tuesday aimed at ensuring Tehran does not acquire a nuclear bomb, in return for sanctions relief, a diplomat close to the talks said. The breakthrough came on the 18th day of marathon talks between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 — the United States, Russia, China, Britain, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-major-powers-strike-nuclear-deal-diplomat-64888/

DefenceTalkA top US Republican said a potential historic nuclear deal with Iran would be a “hard sell” in Congress, as talks neared their final hour in Vienna on Sunday. “It appears as if the administration’s approach to this was to reach whatever agreement the Iranians are willing to enter into,” US Senate Majority Leader Mitch […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nuclear-agreement-a-hard-sell-to-us-congress-64885/

DefenceTalkThe United States has to spend $18 billion a year for 15 years to modernize its entire nuclear deterrent force or risk losing it entirely, US Deputy Secretary of Defense Bob Work told the House of Representatives House Armed Services Committee. “Carrying out this is a very expensive proposition [that will cost] $18 billion a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-must-fund-urgent-270bln-nuclear-weapons-upgrade-plan-64783/

DefenceTalkVienna: The broad outlines of an unprecedented deal between Iran and global powers to put a nuclear bomb out of Tehran’s reach are known. But the devil is in the details. Here are some of the thorniest sticking points which top negotiators still have to nail down to reach a comprehensive accord, as Tuesday’s deadline […]https://www.defencetalk.com/main-sticking-points-in-iran-nuclear-talks-64722/

DefenceTalkIran and the US admitted during tense talks Sunday they are highly likely to miss a looming deadline to nail down a historic nuclear deal as they struggled to overcome major differences. Officials in Vienna said however that Tuesday’s target date would only be missed by a few days, with Iran saying there was “no […]https://www.defencetalk.com/deadline-in-doubt-in-tense-iran-nuclear-talks-64720/

DefenceTalkNATO’s military buildup on Russia’s borders, as well as the US muscle flexing in Europe has resulted in what German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung called a return to nuclear deterrence. Five years ago, in 2010, the leaders of Russia and the United States signed the New START Treaty, which requires both countries to reduce the number […]https://www.defencetalk.com/nato-us-muscle-flexing-pulls-nukes-back-into-global-game-of-thrones-64679/

DefenceTalkIran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei restated his red lines for a nuclear deal with world powers in a sudden intervention Tuesday after discord surfaced between his government and lawmakers. Khamenei, who will have the last word for Iran in its talks with the West, stepped in hours after Iran’s parliament passed a bill on […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iran-leader-restates-red-lines-on-nuclear-deal-64676/

DefenceTalkParis: France said Wednesday it would look into building two nuclear reactors in Saudi Arabia as part of a multi-billion-euro package of deals, days before the deadline of nuclear talks with the kingdom’s rival, Iran. A feasibility study will be carried out to build two European Pressurised Reactors in Saudi Arabia, French Foreign Minister Laurent […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-to-study-building-nuclear-reactors-in-saudi-arabia-64667/

DefenceTalkMoscow: President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Russia must defend itself if threatened, as the US warned against a return to a “Cold War status” after Moscow announced plans to boost its nuclear arsenal. The declaration from the Kremlin strongman came as Russia reacted with fury to reports the US is planning to bulk up […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-cites-threats-as-nuclear-arsenal-boosted-64530/