AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Hwang Jin-hyun
  • Iran’s Infighting Deepens Over Whether to Negotiate Nuclear Program With U.S.
    Iran’s Infighting Deepens Over Whether to Negotiate Nuclear Program With U.S. Iran’s internal rifts have flared again over whether to negotiate with the United States, including on its nuclear program, raising fresh signs of political division, the Financial Times reported. The newspaper said Iranian factions that had rallied around the government during airstrikes have begun to fracture again since a cease-fire, with disputes widening over whether to pursue talks with Washington. According to the report, political forces closed ranks during the strikes to confront what was described as a war for survival. But three weeks after the cease-fire took effect, long-running disputes have resurfaced and debate has intensified over Iran’s next steps. The central issue is whether to negotiate with the United States over the nuclear program. Opposition to talks has grown, particularly among hard-liners, who have targeted Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The report said he led outreach after meeting U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Pakistan on April 11. Politicians aligned with the hard-line Paydari faction criticized the negotiating team, saying it did not sufficiently follow guidance from the supreme leader. Mahmoud Nabavian, a lawmaker identified as part of Paydari, told local media that “negotiations are a total loss and no one should enter negotiations.” He called it a “strategic mistake” to include the nuclear program on the agenda. On April 27, 261 of Iran’s 290 lawmakers adopted a statement backing the negotiating team, but key Paydari figures did not sign, the report said. Analysts also said uncertainty is growing because of the supreme leader’s absence. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has not appeared in public since the war, and the decision-making structure is reported to be strained. The report said veteran figures who had managed internal disputes for decades died early in the airstrikes, leaving a newer leadership with less crisis-management experience. President Donald Trump cited the turmoil when he announced over the weekend that he was canceling the dispatch of a second negotiating team. “There is tremendous infighting and chaos in Iran’s leadership. No one, including themselves, knows who is in charge,” he said. Iran has reportedly proposed an end-of-war framework to the United States that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, imposing transit fees on ships and maintaining its right to enrich uranium. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the proposal “better than expected,” but said it was unclear whether the person who made it had real authority. Iranian leaders have urged unity. Ghalibaf, President Masoud Pezeshkian and the head of the judiciary wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “In our Iran, there are no hard-liners or moderates. We are all Iranians and revolutionaries.” Still, Khamenei’s seclusion is seen as making coordination difficult. One source said most people want a cease-fire, but “even minimal communication between the supreme leader and lower-level organizations is almost impossible.” Concerns are also rising inside Iran that if negotiations stall, the country could slide back toward full-scale war with the United States and Israel. Reformist politician Mohammad Sadegh Javadi Hessar criticized hard-liners for continuing to push back, calling it self-destructive and saying they were seeking room for their own political future.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 14:58:14
  • OpenAI Pushes Back on Growth Slowdown Concerns, Citing Strong Consumer and Business Demand
    OpenAI Pushes Back on Growth Slowdown Concerns, Citing Strong Consumer and Business Demand OpenAI rejected concerns about slowing growth, saying its business is progressing smoothly overall. Bloomberg reported that OpenAI said in a statement Monday that both its consumer and enterprise businesses are performing strongly and that “internal sentiment is very positive.” The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing unnamed sources, that OpenAI had fallen short of targets for new users and revenue, and that concerns had been raised internally about whether it can sustain the heavy costs of investing in artificial intelligence. The Journal also said OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar recently told executives that if revenue does not rise fast enough, the company could struggle to cover future AI data center costs. After the report, worries about the AI boom weighed on shares of OpenAI investor and partner companies including SoftBank, Oracle and CoreWeave during Monday’s session. OpenAI dismissed the Journal report as a “typical clickbait story.” In its statement, the company reaffirmed its stance on securing more computing capacity, calling it “what makes everything possible.” Earlier this month, OpenAI told investors in a memo that it is expanding compute capacity quickly and steadily and gaining an edge over Anthropic. It said the gap matters because compute resources have become a bottleneck for products, underscoring the need to keep investing in infrastructure. Still, Bloomberg reported that even before the Journal article, OpenAI had begun taking a more cautious approach to infrastructure spending. OpenAI has said it plans to pause a project underway in the United Kingdom, and Microsoft is set to lease a data center in Norway that had been planned for OpenAI. Bloomberg also reported last month that Oracle and OpenAI withdrew a key AI data center expansion plan for the “Stargate” project after fundraising talks were delayed.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 14:22:45
  • Israel’s president moves to mediate plea deal talks in Netanyahu corruption trial
    Israel’s president moves to mediate plea deal talks in Netanyahu corruption trial Israeli President Isaac Herzog has begun efforts to mediate a “judicial agreement” over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial. The Times of Israel reported on April 28 (local time) that Herzog plans to broker talks between Netanyahu’s side and prosecutors to reach a “judicial agreement,” rather than decide whether to accept or reject the prime minister’s request for a pardon. An invitation signed by the president’s legal adviser reportedly said that before reviewing whether to grant a pardon, the sides should first seek an agreement to end the trial. The presidential office urged both sides to negotiate with openness and good faith and asked them to respond by May 3. Netanyahu previously requested a pardon in November last year, saying the trial was fueling national division and interfering with his duties as prime minister. U.S. President Donald Trump, who is close to Netanyahu, has also reportedly sent Herzog multiple messages urging an end to the trial. Netanyahu is on trial after being indicted in three cases, including allegations that he took bribes in exchange for providing favors to wealthy individuals, as well as fraud and breach of trust. He denies all charges. Now in its sixth year, the Netanyahu trial is widely seen as a central issue deepening Israel’s political divisions. Netanyahu’s side has argued the investigation was a “political witch hunt” driven by the media and investigative authorities.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 13:59:29
  • USFK commander urges Korea-Japan-Philippines kill web to counter North Korea, China, Russia
    USFK commander urges Korea-Japan-Philippines 'kill web' to counter North Korea, China, Russia Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. Forces Korea, has proposed building a so-called “kill web” that links South Korea, Japan and the Philippines into a single military network. The Japan Times reported April 29 that Brunson, in an interview, said the network is needed to respond to rising security threats from North Korea, China and Russia. He said the plan would connect the three countries’ capabilities in multiple layers, with the South Korea-U.S. alliance as the core. Brunson said the goal is to integrate allied forces into one network not only across traditional domains — land, sea and air — but also space, cyber and the electromagnetic spectrum. As an example, he said U.S. satellite-based sensors could detect signs of threats from North Korea, China or Russia, then ground radars in South Korea or Japan could track them, with other forces moving to respond. He said such a system requires a network that allows real-time sharing of data from sensors — including satellites, drones and troops — to strike assets such as aircraft, ships and missile systems. Brunson said modern wars are often decided in cyber and electromagnetic domains before conventional fighting begins, underscoring the need to strengthen deterrence and build a rapid, combined response. The Japan Times said the proposal aligns with a shift in how the U.S. Defense Department views East Asia: not treating the Korean Peninsula as a standalone theater focused on deterring North Korea, but as a key hub in a broader defense network along the “first island chain” stretching from Japan to Borneo. Brunson said in major regional contingencies — including tensions in the Taiwan Strait or maritime disputes — all three countries could be involved. “The question is whether we are prepared to respond together, or whether we will be forced to coordinate in a rush after the fact,” he said. He also said U.S. allies such as South Korea, Japan and the Philippines cannot exist in isolation. “If you connect them, there is no single axis that hostile forces can prepare against, and the military advantage grows,” he said. To make the concept workable, Brunson outlined four tasks. He said South Korea, with its large ground forces and defense industrial base, would serve as a central provider of deterrence and logistics support. Japan, as a hub where major assets including fifth-generation fighters and the U.S. 7th Fleet are based, would provide advanced surveillance and strike capabilities and maritime control. The Philippines would offer strategic access linking the Pacific and Indian oceans and help reinforce maritime deterrence through systems such as ground-based anti-ship missiles. He also cited expanded multinational exercises as a key step to strengthen real-world readiness. The Japan Times said turning the plan into reality would require broader intelligence sharing and a maintenance and support system for U.S. military equipment in the region. It also cited political sensitivity over South Korea-Japan military cooperation and Japan’s constitutional constraints as major variables. Brunson said cooperation between U.S. forces in Japan and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces is already close but needs to be institutionalized, comments that also supported moves in Japan to strengthen its defense posture. In November last year, Brunson posted an East Asia map on the U.S. Forces Korea website with North and South Korea inverted, arguing for the need for “strategic triangle” cooperation among South Korea, Japan and the Philippines. At the time, he said the most important insight from the inverted map was the existence of a “strategic triangle” linking the three countries, adding that the concept offers a useful framework for trilateral planning discussions beyond traditional bilateral alliances.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:45:55
  • U.S. Treasury chief touts Iran sanctions, says tens of billions in revenue blocked
    U.S. Treasury chief touts Iran sanctions, says tens of billions in revenue blocked U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted what he called the results of sanctions targeting Iran’s finance, energy and logistics networks, reaffirming a policy of “maximum pressure.” With U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks stalled, Bessent has repeatedly pointed to economic sanctions in a public push. In a post Monday on X, Bessent said the Treasury Department, through an operation he called “Economic Fury,” targeted Iran’s international shadow financial infrastructure, access routes to cryptocurrency, the so-called “shadow fleet,” weapons procurement networks, funding channels for regional proxy forces, and independent Chinese “teapot” refineries that support Iran’s oil trade. He said the measures blocked “tens of billions of dollars” in revenue that could be used to finance terrorism. Bessent added that under the president’s “maximum pressure” policy, prices in Tehran have doubled and the currency has sharply weakened. Bessent also said Iran’s main crude export terminal, Kharg Island, is expected to near its storage limits, forcing the Iranian government to cut oil production. He said that could mean additional revenue losses of about $170 million a day and could cause permanent damage to Iran’s oil infrastructure. He said Treasury will continue the maximum-pressure campaign and warned that individuals, ships and institutions that help illegal flows of money to Tehran risk U.S. sanctions. A day earlier, Bessent warned that individuals or companies doing business with sanctioned Iranian airlines could also face sanctions. “Transactions with sanctioned Iranian airlines carry the risk of U.S. sanctions,” he wrote, urging governments to take steps to ensure their companies do not provide services — including jet fuel, catering, landing fees or maintenance. He said Treasury will maintain maximum pressure and would act against third parties that help or carry out Iran-related transactions, adding that individuals, ships and institutions supporting illegal funding flows to Tehran could be sanctioned. With ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran at an impasse, the United States appears to be increasing economic pressure on Iran in an effort to gain leverage in any future negotiations.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 10:07:06
  • U.S. intelligence weighs Iran response if Trump declares unilateral victory, sources say
    U.S. intelligence weighs Iran response if Trump declares unilateral victory, sources say U.S. intelligence agencies are analyzing how Iran might respond if President Donald Trump were to declare a unilateral victory, as political pressure grows with the war dragging on, according to a Reuters report. Reuters, citing U.S. government officials, reported April 28 local time that intelligence officials are reviewing the potential fallout if Trump declares victory in the roughly two-month war with Iran. The report said the analysis, requested by senior administration officials, is part of broader scenario planning. Some officials and advisers are concerned the conflict could lead to a major Republican defeat in the midterm elections, and they want to understand the consequences if Trump pulls back from the war. No specific decision has been made, but Trump could expand military operations again if needed. A rapid de-escalation could ease political pressure, officials said, but it could also allow Iran to rebuild nuclear and missile capabilities and expand its regional influence. U.S. intelligence has conducted similar assessments before. After initial airstrikes in February, one assessment found that if Trump declares victory and reduces troop levels, Iran would be likely to treat it as a de facto victory. If Trump declares victory while keeping forces in place, it could be seen as a negotiating tactic, but would be unlikely to end the war, the assessment said. The White House says it remains open to talks. Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the United States is still negotiating with Iran and will not rush into a bad deal. She said the president will agree only to a deal that puts U.S. national security first and has made clear Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon. Public opinion in the United States has worsened, the report said. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll, 26% said the military operation was worth the cost, and 25% said it made the United States safer. The prolonged war is also weighing on energy markets. The Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has blocked, is a key shipping route through which about 20% of the world’s oil cargo passes. Continued disruption has kept pressure on international crude prices and U.S. gasoline prices. A diplomatic solution remains unclear. Trump signaled skepticism about progress by canceling a weekend trip to Pakistan by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the report said. Military options are still being reviewed inside the administration, though one U.S. government official and another source said the most hard-line option, such as an invasion of the Iranian mainland, appears less feasible than it did several weeks ago. Iran, meanwhile, is believed to be using a ceasefire period to repair military assets damaged in the initial airstrikes. Analysts said that if full-scale fighting resumes, the military costs could be higher than at the outset.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 09:36:04
  • Trump Rejects Iran Proposal; Pakistan Expects Revised Plan Within Days, CNN Reports
    Trump Rejects Iran Proposal; Pakistan Expects Revised Plan Within Days, CNN Reports Pakistan, acting as a mediator, expects to receive a revised Iranian proposal to end the war within days as U.S.-Iran talks remain stalled, CNN reported April 28. CNN, citing a Pakistani source, said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was to return to Iran that day after a trip to Russia and consult with the country’s top leadership. The source said internal coordination could take considerable time because the supreme leader’s whereabouts are not publicly disclosed, limiting communication. President Donald Trump said over the weekend that he would not accept Iran’s proposal. The plan was described as a phased approach: end the war first, then address key disputes tied to Iran’s nuclear program in follow-up talks. Sources said negotiations remain ongoing and fluid, with a central question being whether Iran will revise its offer to a level the United States can accept. Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Iran had just told the United States it was in a “State of Collapse.” He added that Iran, while trying to resolve its leadership situation “(I believe they can),” wants the Strait of Hormuz opened as soon as possible.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 08:38:27
  • Wall Street Ends Lower on OpenAI Growth Concerns; Nasdaq Falls 0.9%
    Wall Street Ends Lower on OpenAI Growth Concerns; Nasdaq Falls 0.9% 뉴욕증시가 오픈AI를 둘러싼 성장 둔화 우려 속에 일제히 하락 마감했다. 28일(현지시각) 뉴욕증권거래소(NYSE)에서 다우존스30산업평균지수는 전 거래일보다 25.86포인트(0.05%) 내린 4만9141.93에 거래를 마쳤다. 스탠더드앤드푸어스(S&P)500지수는 35.11포인트(0.49%) 하락한 7138.80, 나스닥종합지수는 223.30포인트(0.90%) 떨어진 2만4663.80으로 장을 마감했다. U.S. stocks closed broadly lower after negative news tied to OpenAI added to investor caution following recent record highs for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq. The Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI missed targets for new users and revenue, and that internal concerns have been raised about whether the company can sustain massive artificial intelligence investment costs. In particular, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar was reported to have told executives that if revenue growth is not fast enough, the company may not be able to cover future AI data center costs. AI chipmakers fell. Nvidia slid 1.6%, while Broadcom dropped 4.4%, AMD fell 3.4% and Micron declined 3.9%. Oracle, which is building data centers for OpenAI, sank 4.1%. Losses in tech were limited as investors looked ahead to earnings from major companies. Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are set to report results on 29일, and Apple is scheduled to release earnings on 30일. Investors are watching whether AI-driven demand helps deliver strong results. Chuck Carlson, CEO of Horizon Investment, told Reuters, "The OpenAI issue is giving investors more to think about in terms of whether growth is slowing and what that means for capital spending," adding, "With major hyperscalers reporting tomorrow, investors may have more incentive to take some profits." Rising oil prices also weighed on sentiment. Brent crude futures settled up 2.8% at $111.26 a barrel, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude rose 3.7% to $99.93. The gains came despite news that the United Arab Emirates would leave OPEC, as talks between the United States and Iran over ending the war remained stalled, fueling worries about prolonged supply uncertainty. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is holding a two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting through 29일 to set monetary policy. Markets are leaning toward the benchmark rate being held at 3.50% to 3.75%, and are watching what message Chair Jerome Powell delivers on recent economic conditions, including Middle East developments, and the policy path ahead.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-29 08:15:49
  • Iran Convenes Emergency Security Council Meeting Amid Fears of Renewed Protests
    Iran Convenes Emergency Security Council Meeting Amid Fears of Renewed Protests Iranian authorities have moved to prepare for a possible return of anti-government protests, amid growing assessments that unrest could flare again soon. Iran International, an opposition outlet, reported Monday (local time) that Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, or SNSC, was recently convened on an emergency basis over concerns that the mass protests that swept the country from late last year into early this year could reemerge. The report said the meeting followed an intelligence assessment that conditions for protests are in place, citing rising prices, worsening unemployment and damage to key industries from the war with the United States and Israel. It also cited analysis that war-related losses in the petrochemical and steel sectors could directly trigger renewed unrest. An anonymous source described as familiar with the meeting said the SNSC views renewed protests not as a matter of “possibility” but of timing. Some officials, the outlet said, have also warned that labor groups inside and outside Iran are urging large demonstrations around International Workers’ Day on May 1, raising the prospect that an uprising could begin sooner than expected.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 17:59:27
  • Vance Questions Accuracy of Pentagon’s Iran War Briefings to Trump, The Atlantic Reports
    Vance Questions Accuracy of Pentagon’s Iran War Briefings to Trump, The Atlantic Reports With U.S.-Iran talks to end the war stalled, Vice President JD Vance has questioned whether the Pentagon is accurately reporting the state of the war and U.S. weapons stockpiles to President Donald Trump, The Atlantic reported. Citing the magazine’s report dated April 27 (local time), Vance has raised concerns about the accuracy of war-related information coming from the Defense Department led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He has also directly brought up the availability of certain missile systems, according to the report. The Pentagon has publicly said U.S. weapons stockpiles are sufficient and that eight weeks of fighting inflicted significant damage on Iranian forces. People close to Vance, however, have suggested those assessments may not fully reflect conditions on the ground. Vance is said to have conveyed his concerns as personal views, seeking to limit internal friction rather than openly criticize the Pentagon. Still, some allies believe the department’s assessments have been presented too positively. The report also said Vance delivered ammunition-related concerns directly to Trump in a meeting attended by key national security officials. From the early stages of the war, Vance has been among the more cautious voices within the Trump administration, warning that if the conflict dragged on it could be “a disaster,” the report said. The concerns come as analysts point to shrinking U.S. inventories. The New York Times reported on April 23 that the war has rapidly reduced U.S. stocks of missiles and other precision-guided munitions, weakening readiness in Asia and Europe for potential competitors such as China and Russia. Citing U.S. administration and congressional officials, the Times said the U.S. military has used about 1,100 JASSM-ER long-range stealth cruise missiles since the start of Operation “Grand Fury,” leaving an estimated 1,500 remaining. The Center for Strategic and International Studies said in a report issued March 27, citing The Washington Post, that U.S. forces have used about 850 Tomahawk missiles, with remaining stocks estimated in the low 3,000s. Despite the large-scale missile strikes, assessments say Iran’s military threat remains. According to an internal U.S. intelligence assessment cited in the report, Iran still retains about two-thirds of its air power and key missile-launch capabilities, and has preserved much of its fleet of small fast boats that could be used to lay mines and disrupt maritime operations in the Strait of Hormuz. One source said those forces remain a central threat to resuming maritime trade.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-04-28 16:36:18