RUBIO SAYS NO. TRUMP IS STILL IN THE ROOM.

Iran's proposal sequences everything in its favor: end the war first, sort out Hormuz second, nuclear talks third and last 7CRD Iranian FM meets Putin amid stalemate in US ceasefire talks. Rubio called that a non-starter on live television, arguing Iran's transit fee structure is just extortion with extra steps 2TOI Rubio rejects new Iranian proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz, with future of talks in limbo. But while he was saying that, the White House confirmed Trump was meeting with his national security team to discuss the same proposal 1SPK Trump Discusses With Security Team Iran's Proposal on Hormuz Strait Opening - White House. Administrations that have already decided something do not convene the NSC to discuss it. The internal gap is real, and Trump has overridden his own officials before. The May 1 War Powers deadline lands tomorrow, which adds pressure from a completely different direction 3AJE Iran offers Hormuz deal without nuclear talks, as it seeks broader buy-in.

Araghchi met Putin in St. Petersburg, and the Russian side included Foreign Minister Lavrov, presidential aide Ushakov, and Igor Kostyukov, the head of Russia's military intelligence directorate 4SPK Putin Meets Iran’s Top Diplomat in St. Petersburg. Putin said Russia would do "everything in its power" to help end the conflict and confirmed he received a personal message from the supreme leader 4SPK Putin Meets Iran’s Top Diplomat in St. Petersburg. Military intelligence at a diplomatic meeting is not routine. No joint statement on uranium arrangements has emerged, but Kostyukov's presence is the detail worth watching.

Saeed Jalili, who led Iran's nuclear file from 2007 to 2013 and ran for president three times on a platform of maximum resistance, is reportedly set to replace Ghalibaf on the nuclear negotiating team after Ghalibaf was pushed out for trying to fold the nuclear file into current talks 17FOX Iran turmoil erupts: Ultra-hardliner who mocked Trump poised to take over nuclear talks. This is a single-source report 17FOX Iran turmoil erupts: Ultra-hardliner who mocked Trump poised to take over nuclear talks, but it fits everything this newsletter has been tracking about IRGC-aligned consolidation of the diplomatic track. If confirmed, installing your most uncompromising nuclear negotiator at the exact moment Washington is demanding denuclearisation as a precondition is a signal, not a coincidence.

Israeli strikes on Sunday killed 14 people, including children, and wounded 37 others 14GDN Lebanon health ministry says Israeli strikes kill 14 in deadliest day since ceasefire began. Hezbollah says it will not stop attacking Israeli forces inside Lebanon regardless of diplomatic pressure, and Israel has now defined a roughly 10-kilometre-deep strip of Lebanese territory as a no-return zone, with evacuations being ordered from towns north of it 14GDN Lebanon health ministry says Israeli strikes kill 14 in deadliest day since ceasefire began. The ceasefire is technically in force and extended to mid-May. Both sides are actively fighting inside it.

Gulf urea exports, about a third of global traded volumes, have stopped 9TOI Iran war fertilizer squeeze could spell trouble for next year’s grain harvests. India just booked record imports at nearly double the price from two months ago. Farmers planting this season are still drawing on existing stocks, so the pain is deferred, but nitrogen fertilizer has to be applied every season. If Hormuz stays closed through the next planting window, analysts say the resulting grain yield hit would be steeper than the 2022 Ukraine shock, which pushed food prices to multi-decade highs 9TOI Iran war fertilizer squeeze could spell trouble for next year’s grain harvests. Current grain prices are already too low for farmers to absorb the cost difference.