Iran war: US wary of peace plan postponing nuclear deal
What you need to know
- US President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a proposed interim deal communicated to the US via Pakistan
- Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for Washington ending its blockade of Iranian ports
- Tehran's proposal would postpone more complex negotiations over Iran's nuclear program
Here are the latest developments around the war in Iran and the wider Middle East on Tuesday, April 28, 2026:
Skip next section BP profit jumps as oil prices surge on war04/28/2026April 28, 2026BP profit jumps as oil prices surge on war
Oil giant BP has reported a sharp rise in first-quarter profits as oil prices climbed during the Middle East war.
The company said profit after tax rose to $3.8 billion in the January–March period, up from $687 million a year earlier.
Crude prices have surged since the start of the US-Iran conflict on February 28, with markets swinging on fast-moving war developments.
BP said in mid-April that it expected to benefit from higher prices as the conflict choked global energy supplies.
"Overall, our business continues to run well. This was another quarter of strong operational and financial delivery, and we made further progress towards our 2027 targets," said CEO Meg O'Neill
German Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil, from the center-left Social Democrats, this month proposed a windfall tax on energy companies benefiting from the war in the Middle East.
However, Economy Minister Katherina Reiche from Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives has criticized the proposal.
German Chancellor Merz criticizes US over Iran war
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5CwVDSkip next section Australian foreign minister warns Iran war hits Asia-Pacific hardest04/28/2026April 28, 2026Australian foreign minister warns Iran war hits Asia-Pacific hardest
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has said the Middle East war is having a "disproportionate impact" on the Asia-Pacific region.
She made the remarks in Tokyo, vowing closer coordination with Japan to manage global disruption as energy supply concerns grow.
Wong met Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and highlighted tightly linked supply chains. The visit comes ahead of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi traveling to Australia as part of efforts to strengthen economic security and stabilize supplies of energy and critical minerals.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CwKxSkip next section IN DEPTH — How the Iran war is bringing back 'citizenship as a weapon'04/28/2026April 28, 2026IN DEPTH — How the Iran war is bringing back 'citizenship as a weapon'
Cathrin SchaerSome Gulf states, trapped between Iran, Israel and the US in the current war, have started revoking the citizenship of locals considered "traitors." But is it about security — or a way to suppress political dissent?
Read more about how citizenship is being used and abused in light of the war in Iran.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CwJqSkip next section Iran says US can no longer 'dictate' policy04/28/2026April 28, 2026Iran says US can no longer 'dictate' policy
Iran has said the United States is no longer able to "dictate" actions to other countries as talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz continue.
"The United States is no longer in a position to dictate its policy to independent nations," Defense Ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik said, according to state television.
He said Washington would have to eventually "accept that it must abandon its illegal and irrational demands."
Iran has effectively sealed the strategic waterway since early in the war with the US and Israel. That has rattled global energy markets and made the strait a central issue in negotiations to end the conflict.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cw11Skip next section Iran FM praises Russia ties amid regional tensions04/28/2026April 28, 2026Iran FM praises Russia ties amid regional tensions
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has welcomed Russia's support, highlighting relations between the two countries.
Araghchi was in Russia as part of a whirlwind diplomatic tour, having visited Oman in between two visits to Pakistan, which is mediating talks between the US and Iran.
He said engagement with Moscow at the highest level had underscored the strength of the strategic partnership.
The foreign minister on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.
Putin praised the Iranian people as "bravely and heroically fighting for their sovereignty," adding that Russia would do its utmost to bring peace to the Middle East.
https://p.dw.com/p/5Cvt9Skip next section Trump skeptical of Iran proposal to end war04/28/2026April 28, 2026Trump skeptical of Iran proposal to end war
US President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed doubts about Tehran's latest proposal to end the Iran war.
The Iranian leadership has offered to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifts its blockade on the country. The proposal would postpone discussions on the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.
Both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times reported that the US president did not reject the plan outright but questioned the Iranian leadership's sincerity.
Any delay to the nuclear talks is something that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to rule out in a Monday interview on Fox News.
"We can't let them get away with it," he said of the proposal that was delivered to the US by Pakistan. "We have to ensure that any deal that is made, any agreement that is made, is one that definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point."
Washington is demanding Iran hand over highly enriched uranium and abandon any pursuit of nuclear weapons. Tehran denies seeking a bomb but insists on its right to a civilian nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.
Has Iran war harmed nuclear nonproliferation efforts?
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
https://p.dw.com/p/5CuxHSkip next section Welcome to our coverage04/28/2026April 28, 2026Welcome to our coverage
Richard Connor | Alex Berry EditorThank you for joining our Monday coverage of the Middle East as uncertainty continues over whether the United States and Iran will resume negotiations on an end to the war.
But first, a recap of Monday's events:
US President Donald Trump met with top security advisors to discuss an Iranian proposal passed to Washington via Pakistan.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on the fourth leg of a whirlwind diplomatic tour. Araghchi blamed Washington for failed talks because of its "excessive demands" after the White House canceled a trip by negotiators to Pakistan.
Iranian officials say Tehran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US lifts its blockade and ends the war. However, US President Donald Trump maintained that Washington wants a broader deal covering Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
Dozens of countries called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen as UN chief Antonio Guterres warned the humanitarian toll of the war is rising. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the US was being "humiliated" by Iran and criticized Washington for lacking a clear strategy to end the conflict.
Stay tuned as we bring you the latest headlines.
https://p.dw.com/p/5CuvoShow more posts