Today's Headlines and Commentary

A series of envelopes addressed to senior American officials including President Trump and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, were found to contain the poison ricin, reports the Washington Post. The two envelopes were detected at mail facility on Pentagon grounds. No one was injured at the mail facility, and the FBI has taken possession of the envelopes for further testing.

The International Court of Justice ordered the United States to soften sanctions against Iran, and, in response, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has announced the U.S.’s intent to cancel a 1955 treaty between Iran and the U.S that provides the basis for amiable diplomatic and economic exchange, reports the New York Times.

United States envoy to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said on Tuesday that the U.S. might “take out” Russian missiles it views as violating a longstanding arms control treaty; Amb. Hutchinson’s statement was revoked by the end of that day, following a sharp reaction from Moscow, reports the Times.

Iraq has chosen Kurdish politician Barham Salih as president and former oil minister Adel Abdul Mahdi as prime minister after five months of negotiations, reports the Post.

North Korea is demanding that Washington lift sanctions as a show of goodwill before Pyongyang takes steps to denuclearize, reports the Post.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

In this week’s Middle East Ticker, J. Dana Stuster analyzed Kurdistan’s deep divisions, Iranian Missiles in Syria and Turkey’s efforts to improve relations with Germany.

Nele Achten assessed Germany’s position on international law in cyberspace.

Quinta Jurecic uploaded the affidavit and criminal complaint against four California men who participated in the 2017 Charlottesville white nationalist rally.

Jen Patja Howell posted the latest edition of The Lawfare Podcast, a conversation between Benjamin Wittes and Anna Salvatore, chief of the High School SCOTUS blog.

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