September 29th, 2026: Washington and Tehran Negotiating Behind the Scenes & Ukraine Gains Ground in Donetsk
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hey, Mike Baker here. Me and the entire PDB team would like to thank you for listening to the PDB, of course. And we invite you to become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by simply visiting pdbpremium.com. You'll get ad-free episodes, our exclusive weekly newsletter, and regular Ask Me Anything episodes. I mean, ask me anything within reason. Again, just join us at pdb.com. Premium dot com
It's Tuesday, the twenty ninth of September. Look at that. We are almost done with another month. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, from your eyes and ears on the world stage. Oh, and look at that. Coming to you this morning from an airport lounge, somewhere in an undisclosed airport location. Ah, the harsh lighting of an airport lounge.
Are the United States and Iran still negotiating a peace agreement?
All right, let's get briefed. First up, the latest US Iran peace effort may not be completely dead after all, although you'd be hard pressed to locate a pulse, with mediators reportedly still working as both sides dig in over nuclear concessions and sanctions relief. Later in the show, Ukraine says it continues to gain ground in northern Donetsk, retaking territory as its forces try to disrupt Russia's latest push in the East. Plus, two North Korean soldiers Captured while fighting for Russia have triggered a diplomatic dispute between South Korea and Ukraine. And in today's Back at the Brief, a new report says Egypt's intelligence chief personally warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the seven October attacks, a claim that the Israeli Prime Minister disputes.
But first today's PDB spotlight. Yesterday we reported that President Trump had rejected Iran's latest proposal to reopen the street of Hormuz and ease the fighting. But today, it looks like diplomacy is continuing. Well, in some fashion, supposedly. Mediators say indirect talks between Washington and Teffran are continuing, and despite Trump's public rejection, the proposal itself may not be dead. Officials involved in the negotiations. Negotiations are describing slight progress and positive signals from both sides. Look at how optimistic they are, even as the two governments remain far apart on what any agreement would actually require. Of course, if I had a million real for every time mediators said there was progress in these negotiations, well I'd have something like uh ten or twenty dollars.
The biggest change apparently is what Washington now wants to put at the center of those talks. Iran's proposal focused heavily on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing the US blockade and creating a short window for negotiations. The regime wants Washington to back away from some of the economic pressure now squeezing the country, and eventually return to the framework that both sides discussed earlier this year.
How are nuclear concessions and sanctions relief complicating U.S.-Iran talks?
And they reportedly are asking for some of their frozen assets to be handed over. But mediators are now reportedly pressing Iran to make some kind of concession on its nuclear program as part of any broader agreement. And that is a much harder task. Iranian officials have publicly insisted they are not prepared to make nuclear concessions. Tehran is also demanding that Washington move first by easing economic and military pressure before expecting Iran to give up anything in return. it almost sounds like Iran still believes they're arguing from a position of strength. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbasarakchi said over the weekend that Tehran remains open to diplomacy, but also warned that Iran is prepared to for renewed fighting if negotiations fail.
So both sides are still talking, reportedly, but neither side appears eager to make the first major concession. There is some indication, though, that Iran's public position may be harder than its private one. The Wall Street Journal reports that a senior Middle Eastern official involved in the diplomacy believes that Iran had been close to making compromises on its nuclear program earlier this year during talks with Vice President J.D. Vance. According to that official, Tehran would likely want explicit assurances that Israel would not launch another attack after the United States.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–1:02
2
Are the United States and Iran still negotiating a peace agreement?
1:02–3:03
3
How are nuclear concessions and sanctions relief complicating U.S.-Iran talks?
3:03–7:27
4
How is Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi retaking territory in northern Donetsk?
7:27–8:55
5
Can Ukraine’s gains disrupt Russia’s push to encircle Donetsk cities?
8:55–10:26
6
Why did captured North Korean soldiers spark a dispute between Seoul and Kyiv?
10:26–12:09
7
What happens to the North Korean soldiers transferred to South Korea?
12:09–16:08
8
Did Egypt warn Netanyahu about a possible Hamas attack before October 7?
16:08–20:04
Speakers
1 identifiedMore from The President's Daily Brief
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