Russian Defense Minister Appears for First Time Since Wagner Mutiny 

In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
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Russian Defense Minister Appears for First Time Since Wagner Mutiny 

In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)
In his photo taken and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Thursday, June 8, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspects the preparation of equipment and weapons for shipment to the zone of the special military operation at the arsenals and storage bases of the Western Military District at an undisclosed location in Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File)

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu appeared for the first time since a deal was struck on Saturday to end what the authorities had called an armed mutiny by the Wagner mercenary group aimed at ousting him. 

In a video released on Monday morning by the Russian Defense Ministry, Shoigu was shown flying in a plane with a colleague and hearing reports at a command post run by Russia's Zapad (West) military grouping. 

There was no sound on the video and it was not immediately clear where or when the visit had taken place. 

Russia's Zvezda Defense Ministry TV Channel said Shoigu, who looked physically unharmed and calm, had listened to a report by Colonel General Yevgeny Nikiforov, the group's commander, about the current situation on the frontlines in Ukraine. 

In his mutiny during which he seized control of Russia's military headquarters in southern Russia, renegade Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had demanded that Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff, be handed over to him so that he could "restore justice." 

Prigozhin accused both men of gross incompetence and corruption and had long been agitating for their removal. 

Gerasimov has not been seen since in public, and there was no word from the Kremlin about any new personnel changes when it described the deal which had ended the mutiny. 

The Kremlin said the question of personnel changes was the sole prerogative of President Vladimir Putin and could hardly have been part of any deal. 

Zvezda said Shoigu on his visit had heard about the formation of new reserve forces for the "Zapad" military grouping and had noted what it called the Russian army's "high efficiency" at "detecting and destroying enemy military equipment and accumulations of personnel in tactical areas." 

He had tasked them with continuing active reconnaissance in order to reveal the enemy's plans to thwart Ukrainian forces' movements far behind the frontlines, it said. 

Zvezda said Shoigu had also paid particular attention to what it called "the organization of all-round support for the troops involved in the Special Military Operation and the creation of conditions for the safe housing of personnel." 

Mutineers led by Prigozhin on Saturday advanced towards Moscow to remove what they called Russia's corrupt and incompetent military leadership, before suddenly heading back to a Russia-held area of eastern Ukraine after a deal with the Kremlin brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. 

The deal, as publicly described by the Kremlin, saw criminal charges against the mutineers dropped in exchange for their return to camps. Prigozhin will relocate to Belarus under the agreement. 



Iran: No Deal Without Tangible Sanctions Relief, Guarantees

Two Omani security officers monitor a motorcade believed to be carrying US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12. (AP)
Two Omani security officers monitor a motorcade believed to be carrying US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12. (AP)
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Iran: No Deal Without Tangible Sanctions Relief, Guarantees

Two Omani security officers monitor a motorcade believed to be carrying US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12. (AP)
Two Omani security officers monitor a motorcade believed to be carrying US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12. (AP)

Iran has accused Israel of actively working to undermine ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington over its nuclear program. The talks, mediated by Oman, have centered on Iran’s key demand: effective sanctions relief and concrete guarantees from the United States.

At the same time, Iranian officials warned European powers against triggering the “snapback” sanctions mechanism, calling it a threat to the negotiation track Iran is attempting to strengthen with Washington.

US President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States has held productive discussions with Iran but acknowledged that more time is needed. His comments followed the conclusion of the second round of indirect talks between the two sides, which took place in Rome.

Both countries agreed to work toward a framework for a potential nuclear agreement and described the talks as having made progress. Trump, who withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord during his first term in 2018, has warned that the US could support military action if Iran does not agree to a new deal aimed at preventing it from developing nuclear weapons.

In their second indirect exchange within a week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held nearly four hours of talks in Rome with Steve Witkoff, the US president’s Middle East envoy. The messages were relayed through Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is playing a key mediation role.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reiterated his country’s stance, stating that Tehran is ready to reach an agreement within a clear framework that preserves national interests. However, he added that if the negotiations are not conducted on equal terms, Iran will continue along its own path, consistent with the position expressed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that an emerging alliance appears intent on disrupting the diplomatic process. He said Israel is at the center of these efforts and claimed that several provocative elements in the United States, including certain political figures, are also working against a deal.

The New York Times reported last week that Trump had asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from launching attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in the short term to allow diplomatic efforts to continue. Netanyahu reaffirmed on Sunday that Israel remains committed to preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Trump also warned last week that if negotiations fail, Iran could face a military strike led by Israel.