Speculation Stirs Around Possibility of Operation to Retrieve Iran’s Enriched Uranium
Within a 24-hour-span between Sunday May 10 and Monday May 11, both President Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and U.S. President Donald Trump made statements which some observers have interpreted as signals of growing possibility for American and/or Israeli operation(s) to retrieve Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU).
True Cost of “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Program Estimated at $1.2 Trillion
According to a recent report published by the Congressional Budget Office, President Trump’s proposed space-based missile defense system “Golden Dome” will cost $1.2 trillion to develop, deploy, and operate for two decades. The latest estimate includes the cost of personnel compensation, research and development, maintenance, upgrades, as well as space-based interceptors — which would constitute the most expensive items. This figure stands in stark contrast to the $175 billion price tag the president provided in May 2025.
Russia Completes First Output Reactor Unit to Power Leningrad Nuclear Icebreaker
Russia’s Rosatom State Nuclear Energy Corporation has announced that it has completed the manufacturing of the first RITM-200 reactor unit for the Leningrad nuclear icebreaker. The pressurized water reactor has a capacity of 175 MW, a life-expectancy of at least 40 years, and is intended to be used for small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants and floating power units.
Italy Prepares for Return of Nuclear Power
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that her government is preparing to launch a new framework in the coming months aimed at reintroducing nuclear energy into the country’s energy mix. This news comes 36-years after Italy closed its last two operating plants – Caorso and Trino Vercellese – following a national referendum in the wake of the 1986 Chernobyl accident, and the temporary moratorium on new nuclear construction passed by the Italian Parliament in 2011.