Nuclear Issues

Elena Chachko analyzes the October 3, 2018 ruling by International Court of Justice on a case in which Iran sought fully re-instated sanctions relief from the United States, which was part of the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 

The risks of nuclear escalation are greater than ever given the possibility of misinterpreted cyber espionage and military strikes against early warning systems. 

Last week, the Trump administration reimposed unilateral sanctions against Iran. This comes after the administration announced its intention to withdraw from the Iran deal in April, despite compelling reasons not to. Like most of America’s sanctions regimes, Trump’s order to reimpose sanctions rests on authority granted under a little-known and even less understood statute that gives the president sweeping authority to regulate certain aspects of international trade and commerce: the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

Stephen Walt has four answers to the following question: What should other states do about U.S. power?

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall appears on "Wolf" to talk about the latest sanctions on Iran.

How international law and precedent relate to the case Tehran brought to the International Court of Justice this month.

Drawing from the legacy of his friend and mentor Thomas Schelling, former Belfer Center director Graham Allison outlines the most pressing nuclear challenges that America faces today.

Chuck Freilich analyzes Russia's growing influence n the Middle East.

Chuck Freilich provides an analysis of the consequences of the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action for Israel — and for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future.

As it expands its fleet of nuclear power plants, China faces an important decision: whether to make large capital investments in facilities to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and recycle the resulting plutonium in fast neutron reactors, or continue to store nuclear fuel, leaving for the future decisions on whether to reprocess the fuel or dispose of it as waste. In reaching a decision, policymakers should consider financial costs, the available fuel supply, nuclear security and proliferation risks, health and environmental dangers, and spent fuel management issues. This paper will first discuss the status of China’s breeder reactors and civilian reprocessing programs. It will then examine the costs and fuel supply issues associated with reprocessing.