From @theoreticalbts on February 15, 2016 15:28
new_options should be optional allowing asset_update_operation with semantics of "don't change the options" (but maybe change the issuer).
It's going to be hard to implement this change without breaking protocol compatibility.
Copied from original issue: cryptonomex/graphene#580
Update: bitshares/bsips#159 will cover this.