CND's Press Round-Up - 20th May 2021
Posted: 20th May 2021
Dear all,
Please find today’s press round up below. Thank you to all for their continued help and support.
Nuclear Weapons
Efforts ramp up for the final stretch at Vienna on the revivification of the Iran nuclear deal while the U.S. and South Korea engage in presidential discussion on the former’s North Korea nuclear policy review.
Iran Nuclear Deal
The Guardian reports that both sides are preparing for a final round of talks in Vienna next week, with the suggestion that a plan for U.S. re-entry to the JCPoA might be confirmed prior to the Iranian presidential election. The EU’s chief representative, Enrique Mora, expressed confidence a deal would be reached. Sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guards remain a key source of contention. An agreement with the IAEA on monitoring of sites has to be extended this weekend. Diplomats have returned to their capitals for final instructions.
Meanwhile, local media reports on the activities of the Majlis, the Iranian parliament, long seen as a stronghold of the ‘hard-line’ fraction of the Iranian political class. 200 out of 290 representatives signed a statement saying the ‘real removal of all the sanctions’ had to be part of any renewed nuclear agreement. The statement also criticised Germany, France and the UK for their activities in relation to the Vienna talks.
U.S-South Korea Relations
The President of South Korea is in Washington D.C. this week, according to local media, where the Biden administration’s policy on North Korean nuclearisation is expected to be discussed. A policy review on North Korea is likely to be finalised in the next few weeks. There has been some suggestion that the Biden administration’s policy towards North Korea will be more pragmatic. Vaccine diplomacy will also be on the agenda, with plans for a South Korea-based Asian vaccines hub, in part to combat the influence of China and its vaccines.
Anti-War
Israeli attacks on Gaza continue though they seem to be slackening to an extent, whilst the US still blocks accountability at the United Nations.
War on Gaza
Al Jazeera has a useful piece on why Israel is targeting prominent multi-storey buildings in Gaza. Six high-rise buildings have been destroyed by the Israeli Air Force. At the weekend, the IDF destroyed the al-Jalaa tower, which housed the AP and Al Jazeera offices. Some have speculated that the purpose of such attacks is twofold: to sow discontent amongst people in Gaza towards Hamas and to make impartial reporting of the conflict more difficult. An estimated $322 million worth of damage has been done to civilian homes and infrastructure so far.
International Diplomacy on Gaza
The United Nations Security Council has still not issued a collectively-agreed statement on the violence. The efforts of countries like France and China has been stymied so far by the United States, according to the Associated Press.The U.S. has been criticised by the Palestinian Ambassador to the UN for its actions.
With best wishes,
Michael Muir
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament