Iran Urges US to Drop 'Excessive Demands' to Reach Deal

In this handout photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on February 26, 2026, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) speaks with Oman's FM Badr Albusaidi during their meeting in Geneva. (Photo by Iran's Foreign Ministry / AFP)
In this handout photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on February 26, 2026, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) speaks with Oman's FM Badr Albusaidi during their meeting in Geneva. (Photo by Iran's Foreign Ministry / AFP)
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Iran Urges US to Drop 'Excessive Demands' to Reach Deal

In this handout photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on February 26, 2026, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) speaks with Oman's FM Badr Albusaidi during their meeting in Geneva. (Photo by Iran's Foreign Ministry / AFP)
In this handout photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry on February 26, 2026, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (L) speaks with Oman's FM Badr Albusaidi during their meeting in Geneva. (Photo by Iran's Foreign Ministry / AFP)

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that in order to reach a deal, the United States will have to drop its "excessive demands", after the two sides held talks in Geneva.

In a phone call with Egypt's top diplomat Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi said "success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands."

Araghchi did not clarify what demands he was referring to, but Washington has pointed to Iran's ballistic missile program and has repeatedly described Tehran's uranium enrichment capability as a red line.

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Tehran had "already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America."

Also on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is "not enriching right now, but they're trying to get to the point where they ultimately can", adding that Tehran "refuses" to discuss its ballistic missile program and "that's a big problem."

Iran has repeatedly said its missile program is part of its defensive capabilities and has ruled out abandoning uranium enrichment, insisting its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.

Longtime adversaries Iran and the United States held their third round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks on Thursday in Geneva, seeking to avert military escalation as Washington expands its military build-up in the region.

Both Iran and Oman cited progress after the talks, with technical discussions scheduled for Monday in Vienna ahead of a fourth round expected next week.



German Foreign Minister: We Need Deterrence in Face of Nuclear Threats

 27 April 2026, Berlin: Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, gives a statement on the military section of Berlin Brandenburg Airport on an aircraft of the air force before his departure to the United Nations in New York. (dpa)
27 April 2026, Berlin: Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, gives a statement on the military section of Berlin Brandenburg Airport on an aircraft of the air force before his departure to the United Nations in New York. (dpa)
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German Foreign Minister: We Need Deterrence in Face of Nuclear Threats

 27 April 2026, Berlin: Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, gives a statement on the military section of Berlin Brandenburg Airport on an aircraft of the air force before his departure to the United Nations in New York. (dpa)
27 April 2026, Berlin: Johann Wadephul, German Foreign Minister, gives a statement on the military section of Berlin Brandenburg Airport on an aircraft of the air force before his departure to the United Nations in New York. (dpa)

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday that deterrence is needed amid nuclear threats, even as he underscored support for nuclear non-proliferation.

"As long as nuclear threats against ‌us and ‌our partners continue, we ‌will ⁠need a credible ⁠deterrent," he said in a statement ahead of meetings on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that he ⁠is due to attend ‌this ‌week at the United ‌Nations in New York.

He ‌added the conference would seek new ways of safeguarding the treaty's achievements ‌and focus on nuclear disarmament.

France and Germany ⁠last ⁠month announced plans to deepen cooperation on nuclear deterrence, marking a significant shift in defence policy as Europe faces rising threats from Russia and instability linked to the Iran conflict.


Too Early to Drop Sanctions Against Iran, Says EU’s von der Leyen

 President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks the opening press conference of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s executive committee meeting in Berlin, Germany April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks the opening press conference of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s executive committee meeting in Berlin, Germany April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
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Too Early to Drop Sanctions Against Iran, Says EU’s von der Leyen

 President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks the opening press conference of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s executive committee meeting in Berlin, Germany April 27, 2026. (Reuters)
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen speaks the opening press conference of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group’s executive committee meeting in Berlin, Germany April 27, 2026. (Reuters)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that it was too early to drop sanctions imposed on ‌Iran.

"We think ‌the dropping ‌of ⁠sanctions would be ⁠too early," she said in Berlin at a meeting of the ⁠conservative CDU and ‌its ‌CSU Bavarian sister party, ‌adding that ‌the sanctions were in place due to Iran's suppression of ‌its own population.

"We first have to ⁠see ⁠a change, a fundamental change in Iran for the dropping of sanctions," von der Leyen added.


Russia Says Worker at Captured Nuclear Plant Killed in Ukrainian Strike

A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the bank of Kakhovka Reservoir near the town of Nikopol after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 16, 2023. (Reuters)
A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the bank of Kakhovka Reservoir near the town of Nikopol after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 16, 2023. (Reuters)
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Russia Says Worker at Captured Nuclear Plant Killed in Ukrainian Strike

A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the bank of Kakhovka Reservoir near the town of Nikopol after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 16, 2023. (Reuters)
A view shows Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant from the bank of Kakhovka Reservoir near the town of Nikopol after the Nova Kakhovka dam breached, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine June 16, 2023. (Reuters)

A Ukrainian drone strike Monday on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant complex killed a transport worker, the site's Moscow-installed authorities said.

Zaporizhzhia is the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe. Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused the other of risking a nuclear catastrophe with attacks since it was captured by Russia's forces in 2022.

"Today, a driver was killed in a strike by a Ukrainian armed forces drone on the transport shop floor of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant," the plant's press service said on Telegram.

The plant -- which is in cold shutdown -- is close to the front line in southern Ukraine. Its fate is a major sticking point in stalled talks on ending the war.

Ukrainian state nuclear company Energoatom said Sunday that the plant's "power transmission line was disconnected, causing the plant to switch to blackout mode" for an hour and a half.

"This is already the 15th blackout at the Zaporizhzhia NPP since its occupation. Each such incident significantly increases nuclear and radiation safety risks not only for Ukraine, but for Europe in general."

Ukraine on Sunday marked the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, with President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Russia of sending drones at the site that he said amounted to "nuclear terrorism".