For Immediate Release: April 12, 2012
(Washington, D.C.) For the first time in 15 months the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) will hold talks with Iran on its nuclear program in Istanbul April 14. The meeting is expected to be the beginning of a series of talks rather than a single session over the weekend. The talks are likely to focus on Iran's enrichment to 20% as a confidence-building step toward broader progress on resolving the nuclear issue.
Meanwhile, North Korea has prepared to launch a rocket it claims is intended to put a satellite in space but which also serves as a test of its long-range Taepodong 2 missile. The launch is expected to take place between today and Monday, April 16. The launch will be the fourth time North Korea has tested a long-range missile technology. The last two attempts were followed by UN Security Council censure and North Korean nuclear tests.
Arms Control Association experts will be available to comment on these developments over the next several days and through the weekend:
Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director, dkimball@armscontrol.org (202) 463-8270 x107.
Greg Thielmann, Senior Fellow, greg@armscontrol.org (202) 463-8270 x103
Peter Crail, Nonproliferation Analyst, peter@armscontrol.org (202) 463-8270 x102
Additional Resources:
Priorities for Renewed Nuclear Talks with Iran, by Daryl G. Kimball and Greg Thielmann, April 11, 2012
A Window of Opportunity with Iran, by Peter Crail, March 9, 2012
Chronology of U.S.-North Korea Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy, updated April 2012
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The Arms Control Association is an independent, membership-based organization dedicated to providing authoritative information and practical policy solutions to address the threats posed by the world's most dangerous weapons.