Moscow, April 27: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Russia’s St Petersburg on Monday to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, local media reported on Monday.

Upon arrival in St Petersburg, Araghchi was received by Russian officials and Iran’s Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali. According to Jalali, Araghchi and President Putin are set to hold talks in St Petersburg on Monday, Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Speaking to IRNA, Jalali said discussions between Araghchi and President Putin will focus on developments after the joint strikes by the US and Israel against Iran.

Jalali said Araghchi’s visit is part of “close consultations” between Iran and Russia as the two nations have similar approaches to regional and international issues. He further said that the Presidents of Iran and Russia have held three phone calls since the conflict began on February 28.

Araghchi arrived in Russia after concluding his visit to Oman amid the ongoing tensions in West Asia.

Earlier, the Iranian FM held a meeting with Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, discussing bilateral ties, regional developments, and ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the regional crisis.

During the meeting, Araghchi briefed Oman’s Sultan about Iran’s stance on the latest developments of the conflict. He expressed appreciation for Oman’s support for dialogue and promoting efforts aimed at enhancing security and stability in the region, especially considering the current regional challenges, Iran’s Press TV reported.

Sultan Haitham highlighted Oman’s stance on advancing mediation efforts that would increase the chances of reaching sustainable political solutions and mitigate the impact of crises on the people of the region. He stressed the importance of using dialogue and diplomacy to resolve issues.

In a statement on X, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated: “We are in Muscat for an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman — FM Araghchi’s first to the region following the recent US-Israeli aggression, which has impacted the broader region. Iran continues to place great importance on its relations with Persian Gulf states and remains committed to strengthening mutual trust and constructive cooperation. The Oman–Iran relationship stands as a testament to Iran’s genuine pursuance of respectful and mutually beneficial relations with its neighbours in the South.”

The tensions in West Asia escalated after the US and Israel carried out a joint military operation against Iran on February 28. The joint military strikes killed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, triggering a large-scale military operation by Iran against Israel and the US bases in the Gulf nations. The conflict also led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a global energy crisis.

Washington, April 27: Iran has presented the United States with a new proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the war, while postponing nuclear negotiations to a later stage, according to a report, which cited a US official and two sources familiar with the matter.

According to US media outlet Axios, the proposal aims to break the current stalemate in the negotiations and bypass the internal disagreements within the Iranian leadership over the scope of nuclear concessions it is willing to make.

“But lifting the blockade and ending the war would remove President Trump’s leverage in any future talks to remove Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and convince Tehran to suspend enrichment — two primary war objectives for Trump,” the report said.

Meanwhile, citing three US officials, the report further noted that the US President is expected to hold a Situation Room meeting on the conflict on Monday (local time) with his top national security and foreign policy team.

The sources told Axios that Trump’s team would discuss the stalemate in the talks and potential next steps.

In an interview with Fox News on Sunday (local time), Trump signalled that he wants to continue the naval blockade to halt Iran’s oil exports, with an aim that it will get Tehran to give up in the coming times.

“When you have vast amounts of oil pouring through your system … if for any reason this line is closed because you can’t put it into containers or ships … what happens is that line explodes from within. … They say they only have about three days before that happens,” Trump was quoted as saying in the interview with Fox News by Axios.

This comes as tensions between the US and Iran deepened after the Islamabad talks ended without progress.

Washington, April 26: A lone gunman armed with a shotgun, handgun and multiple knives charged a Secret Service checkpoint at the Washington Hilton before being tackled by law enforcement, officials said, revealing new details about the weapons and sequence of events in the shooting near the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Washington’s interim Police Chief Jeff Carroll said the suspect was heavily armed when he attempted to breach security. “He was armed with a shotgun, a handgun, and multiple knives as he ran through that checkpoint,” Carroll told reporters.

The incident occurred at about 8:36 p.m. in the hotel lobby, where multiple layers of security had been set up for the high-profile event attended by the president and senior officials.

Carroll said law enforcement personnel immediately engaged the suspect. “Members of the United States Secret Service intercepted that individual,” he said, adding that officers “exchanged gunfire with the individual.”

A Secret Service officer was struck during the exchange but survived after the bullet hit his protective vest. “He was transported to a local hospital for treatment… he seems to be in good spirits at this time,” Carroll said.

Officials said the suspect was subdued without being shot. “He was not struck by gunfire… however, he was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated,” Carroll said.

Authorities emphasised that the suspect never reached the ballroom where thousands of guests were gathered. “That checkpoint worked,” US Attorney Jeanine Pirro said, crediting the layered security system for preventing a potentially mass-casualty incident.

Pirro said the suspect’s actions indicated intent to cause significant harm. “It is clear… that this individual was intent on doing as much harm and as much damage as he could where thousands of people were situated,” she said.

She confirmed that the defendant is already facing federal charges. “The defendant is being charged with two counts… using a firearm during a crime of violence and… assault on a federal officer using a dangerous weapon,” Pirro said, adding that additional charges are expected as the investigation progresses.

Officials said the suspect was tackled and restrained by officers at the scene. “They actually… took him to the ground and handcuffed (him),” Carroll said, describing how the arrest unfolded.

Despite the scale of the incident, authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public. “There does not appear to be any sort of danger to the public at this time,” Carroll said, noting that investigators believe the suspect acted alone.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said, “We have no reason to believe at this time that anyone else was involved,” confirming early assessments that the attacker was a lone gunman.

Officials are now working to determine how the suspect gained access to the hotel with multiple weapons. Carroll said investigators are reviewing surveillance footage and conducting searches. “We’ll go through video across the hotel to figure out how the gun got in, how it got down here,” he said.

He added that authorities have secured a room at the hotel believed to be linked to the suspect. “We do believe he was a guest here at the hotel… we have secured a room here,” Carroll said.

The FBI has deployed its Joint Terrorism Task Force and evidence response teams to assist in the investigation. Assistant Director Darren Cox said agents were pursuing all leads. “There will be no stone unturned during this investigation,” he said.

Cox also praised the rapid response by law enforcement. “The American public should be proud of the quick response and heroic actions from law enforcement officers tonight,” he said.

Secret Service Director Sean Kern said the incident demonstrated the effectiveness of layered security protocols. “It shows that our multi-layered protection works,” he said, noting that agents were able to stop the suspect before he could reach protected individuals.

Officials said the investigation remains in its early stages, with agencies continuing to analyse forensic evidence, interview witnesses and examine the suspect’s background.

They have not yet determined a motive or whether the president was specifically targeted, saying those questions remain under investigation.

Authorities indicated that further charges could be filed as more information emerges, with the suspect expected to be arraigned in federal court in the coming days.