
AI-generated summary
President Trump is putting pressure on Iran to achieve results before the midterm elections by using stopping Iran from possessing nuclear weapons as a justification for starting a war.
US online media Axios reported on the 28th (local time) that US President Donald Trump is willing to ease sanctions or lift frozen funds if Iran takes concrete steps regarding its nuclear program.
Axios reported this, citing multiple U.S. officials.
While Iran wants to focus negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz and the maritime blockade of U.S. forces, the Trump administration is demanding that Iran make concessions regarding its nuclear program.
Since President Trump has used stopping Iran from possessing nuclear weapons as a justification for starting a war, it would be best to obtain concessions related to Iran's nuclear development ahead of the midterm elections in early November to present it as an achievement.
Mediation countries, including Qatar and Pakistan, are meeting one after another with the United States and Iran to try to reach an agreement.
They are scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi in New York on this day, and plan to contact Trump administration officials either today or the 29th.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that mediating countries are also urging Iran to make nuclear-related concessions amid concerns about a recurrence of an all-out war.
There are concerns that military tensions between the two sides may increase after President Trump publicly rejected the '7-day plan' proposed by Iran with the goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
It is unclear whether Iran will respond to President Trump's attempt to reach an agreement by easing sanctions and lifting frozen funds.
Iran has given little signal to mediators that it is ready to discuss its nuclear program, the WSJ reported.
The Trump administration is using a strategy of putting pressure on Iran through economic starvation operations. A large-scale escalation of war ahead of the midterm elections is a very burdensome option, so the strategy is to urge each country to isolate Iran and extract concessions.
First of all, President Trump has left the door to dialogue open even after rejecting the '7-day plan'. President Trump, conscious of popular sentiment, has repeatedly expressed optimism that the Iran war will end and oil prices will plummet around early November, when the midterm elections are scheduled.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Working-level contacts between the Trump administration and Iran will take place within 29 days
Likely · Within days
The Trump administration will consider additional pressure if the Iran nuclear deal is not reached before the midterm elections.
Possible · Within weeks

The European Union (EU) designated North Korea's Songdowon International Boys' Camp as a target of sanctions in connection with Russia's war in Ukraine. The EU Council defined the camp as a state-run institution directly operated by the North Korean authorities and stated that it participated in a program to transport children from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine to North Korea and carried out forced assimilation and militarization education in cooperation with actors linked to Russia. The sanctions take effect immediately after publication in the Official Gazette and include a freeze on assets and a ban on providing economic resources within the EU.

North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the U.S. nuclear power build-up and South Korea's approval of the possession of nuclear-powered submarines as 'acts of nuclear propagation', arguing that this would realize South Korea's nuclear ambitions. It also criticized the past Korea-U.S. nuclear agreement and the Ocus alliance, justifying the advancement of its nuclear forces.

In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Sun-kyung reaffirmed that the country's status as a nuclear state cannot be reversed and emphasized its will for self-reliance by criticizing joint ROK-US exercises and Japan's military trends.

Suspicions have been raised that the Trump administration imported Venezuelan gold to finance criminal organizations. Local armed gangs and corrupt military forces control gold mines and exploit about 20% of mining profits, and imported gold is left in U.S. warehouses as it does not meet international certification standards.

A month before the Israeli general election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a political crisis following revelations that he had ignored the Hamas surprise attack despite knowing about it in advance. Former Shin Bet director Ronen Bar announced that he would file a defamation lawsuit, and suspicions are being raised that he ignored prior warnings from Arab countries such as Egypt and the UAE.

AFP and dpa news agencies reported that Russia has decided to seize the assets of Metro, a German retailer operating in the country. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree entrusting 100% of Metro's local subsidiary assets to the temporary management of the Russian company 'UK Torque RUS'. Metro said in a statement that although it is still the owner, it no longer has operating and control rights, and that it is analyzing the impact.