International
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine threatens to derail Iran nuclear talks
VIENNA — Fears mounted Monday that the Iran nuclear deal may become collateral damage in the Ukraine war as Russia pressed its demand to be exempted from U.S. sanctions in any future business dealings with Iran.
Negotiators had hoped to finalize an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear deal imminently and have already allowed several presumed deadlines to slip after 11 months of talks on ways to bring the deal back to life.
The talks have been focused on how to bring both the United States and Iran back into compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA as the deal is known, by rolling back sanctions imposed by the United States after it pulled out of the agreement in 2018 and the advances later made by Iran in its nuclear program in response to the U.S. sanctions.
The eruption of war in Ukraine has thrown up additional complications by overturning Russia’s relations with the Western nations involved in the negotiations, including the United States, Britain, France and Germany, along with Iran and China. Because the United States withdrew from the agreement, the talks at the Palais Coburg Hotel in Vienna have been taking place among the remaining parties, with negotiators shuttling between the talks and the U.S. delegation at a different hotel.
In a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reiterated that Russia wants the revival of the nuclear deal to be accompanied by U.S. guarantees that sanctions imposed by the West in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine won’t apply to Russian trade or investment with Iran.
Lavrov told Amirabdollahian that the deal’s resuscitation “should ensure that all its participants have equal rights regarding the unhindered development of cooperation in all areas,” the Russian Embassy in Iran said on Twitter.
The demand, first raised by Lavrov at a news conference in Moscow on Saturday, has rocked the negotiations underway in Vienna.
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This was the first time Russia had given any indication that its position might have shifted, and diplomats are now scrambling to assess what the new demands mean and how they might affect the chances of getting a revived deal. Iran seemed as stunned as any of the other countries, with Iranian officials complaining to Iranian media that they only learned of the Russian demand from news reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated in an interview Sunday that the United States would not be prepared to bargain over the sanctions imposed on Russia for the sake of the nuclear deal, saying the issues are unrelated.
“The sanctions that are being put in place and that have been put in place on Russia have nothing to do with the Iran nuclear deal and the prospects of getting back into that agreement,” he told CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “These things are totally different and are — just are not in any way linked together.”
Iran is still pushing for further concessions from the United States on issues related to economic guarantees and removing Iranian entities from the U.S. list of designated terrorists before agreeing to resume adherence to the deal, diplomats say. It is still possible the negotiations could collapse regardless of any shift in Russia’s position, a Western negotiator said.
But diplomats now have to contend with the possibility that Russia may try to upend the deal altogether or to use the talks as a bargaining chip to exact concessions from the West on sanctions related to Ukraine.
“There’s a real tension between Russia’s long-standing interest in containing the Iran nuclear program and this new Russia that seems willing to bring its relations with the West crashing down,” said Henry Rome, an analyst with the Eurasia Group.
Russia may also now have no interest in remaining in a revived deal that would benefit the United States and its Western allies but would potentially damage Russian interests by bringing oil prices down, said Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Iran would be able to sell its oil on the open market again, which could ease tight global supplies and bring prices down by as much as 10 percent.
“Considering the magnitude of the global pressure against Russia, it’s understandable why they might try and hold the Iran nuclear deal hostage to secure their own interests,” he said. “Russia wants the world to feel the economic pain of an embargo against Russian oil. Helping to get Iranian oil back on the market would soften the global financial blow.”
Russia’s participation in the agreement isn’t essential, but the original JCPOA assigns Russia an important role in shipping out and storing Iran’s excess stocks of enriched uranium. The original deal is also backed by a U.N. Security Council resolution, which Russia could veto if it chooses to oppose the revived deal.
Those are issues that could be worked around, but that would be likely to put a further brake on a resolution of the talks, diplomats say. In the meantime, Iran is continuing to enrich uranium and inching closer to what is known as breakout point, meaning that it would have enough enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon should it choose to do so. “Time is of the essence,” a senior Western diplomat said.
The Washington Post
International
Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran
Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran
U.S. forces have successfully rescued the second crew member of a downed F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet from deep inside Iran, President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday. The operation has been described as one of the most daring search-and-rescue missions in American military history, highlighting the skill and coordination of U.S. forces in a highly contested region.
The rescued airman, a highly respected weapons systems officer and U.S. Air Force colonel, was trapped in treacherous mountainous terrain for nearly two days after the jet was shot down on Friday, April 3, 2026. He sustained injuries but is expected to make a full recovery, according to Trump and U.S. officials.
Trump praised the officer’s bravery and detailed the scope of the mission, saying he was monitored around the clock while behind enemy lines. Dozens of U.S. aircraft, equipped with advanced weaponry, supported the operation, which also involved special forces units. A firefight against Iranian troops occurred during the extraction, underscoring the high-risk nature of the rescue.
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“This miraculous Search and Rescue Operation comes in addition to a successful rescue of another brave pilot yesterday,” Trump said. “This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory. No American personnel were killed or wounded in either operation.” The first crew member, the pilot, was rescued shortly after the jet went down.
The F‑15E was downed amid ongoing joint U.S.–Israeli military operations, marking the first confirmed loss of a U.S. combat aircraft to enemy fire in the conflict. Reports indicate the colonel defended himself while evading capture, reportedly armed only with a handgun, before being extracted.
U.S. officials described the operation as a high-risk nighttime-to-daylight mission involving heavy air support and tactical commando movements. Suppressive fire from supporting aircraft helped secure the airman and ensured that all U.S. forces exited Iranian territory safely.
The rescue comes amid continuing military strikes in Iran, including recent damage at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran caused by U.S.–Israeli airstrikes. Trump used the announcement to rally national unity, saying, “This is a moment that ALL Americans, Republican, Democrat, and everyone else, should be proud of and united around. We truly have the best, most professional, and lethal military in the history of the world.”
The Pentagon and U.S. Central Command have withheld further operational details due to security concerns. The colonel’s identity has not been publicly disclosed, and officials emphasized the operation demonstrates both the capability and commitment of U.S. forces to recover personnel under extreme conditions.
Trump Confirms Rescue of Second F‑15E Crew Member From Deep Inside Iran
International
US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran
US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran
United States forces have successfully carried out a high-risk operation to rescue a second American pilot trapped deep inside Iran, officials confirmed Sunday, marking a dramatic development amid escalating U.S.–Iran tensions. The pilot had been stranded for more than 24 hours after an F‑15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday.
President Donald Trump celebrated the mission on social media, calling it “one of the most daring search and rescue operations in U.S. history” and confirming that all personnel involved were safely extracted from Iranian airspace. Trump described the rescued airman as a highly respected U.S. Air Force colonel who sustained injuries but is expected to make a full recovery.
“The brave warrior was behind enemy lines in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies,” Trump said. “At my direction, the U.S. military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world, to retrieve him. WE WILL NEVER LEAVE AN AMERICAN WARFIGHTER BEHIND!”
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This extraction follows the earlier rescue of the F‑15E’s first crew member, highlighting an unprecedented dual operation behind enemy lines. U.S. officials noted that elite special operations forces, aerial support, and real-time intelligence were critical to locating and safely evacuating the pilot. The successful mission demonstrates U.S. military capabilities and air superiority over hostile territory.
Rising Regional Tensions
The rescue comes less than two days before President Trump’s deadline for Iran to negotiate a deal with the United States or open the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route. Meanwhile, Iranian forces have reportedly deployed new domestic air-defense systems, and a recent projectile strike near a nuclear power plant killed one person, further intensifying concerns over regional instability.
Analysts warn that while the rescue represents a major U.S. success, the situation underscores the high stakes of U.S.–Iran confrontations, particularly following last month’s Iranian strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia, which caused more damage than previously disclosed. Efforts by regional mediators, including Qatar, to broker a ceasefire have stalled, leaving tensions elevated.
The operation is a significant military and political achievement for the U.S., highlighting both the risk and precision of modern combat search-and-rescue missions in hostile environments, and reasserting the commitment of the United States to recover its personnel under the most challenging conditions.
US Conducts Daring Rescue of Second Downed Pilot Deep Inside Iran
International
Iran Denies Refusing Peace Talks in Pakistan, Faults Western Media Reports
Iran Denies Refusing Peace Talks in Pakistan, Faults Western Media Reports
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has dismissed claims circulating in Indian and Western media that Tehran declined mediation talks in Pakistan, describing such reports as false and misleading.
In a fresh clarification, Araghchi stated that Iran has “never refused to go to Islamabad” for negotiations, reaffirming the country’s openness to diplomatic engagement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
He expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its efforts to mediate between Iran and the United States, noting that Islamabad’s role remains appreciated despite conflicting media narratives.
The Iranian minister accused sections of the Western media of misrepresenting Tehran’s position, insisting that the issue is not about rejecting talks, but about ensuring that any negotiations lead to a “conclusive and lasting end” to the war.
His comments come amid widespread reports suggesting that Iran had refused to participate in proposed mediation talks in Pakistan, fueling speculation that diplomatic efforts had collapsed. However, both Iranian and Pakistani officials have pushed back against such claims, maintaining that dialogue channels remain open.
The clarification also highlights the complex and evolving nature of backchannel diplomacy in the ongoing conflict, where disagreements over terms—not venue—appear to be the major stumbling block to formal negotiations.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, Pakistan’s mediation initiative is still seen as a potential pathway to de-escalation, even as both sides remain far apart on key conditions for peace.
Iran Denies Refusing Peace Talks in Pakistan, Faults Western Media Reports
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