As the upcoming negotiations between Iran and the United States, expected within a week in Islamabad, evolve into an unprecedented thriller, Russia proceeded on April 20 with a surprise intervention, declaring that it will immediately restore Iran’s nuclear program.
Specifically, the head of Rosatom, Alexei Likhachev, pledged to restore Iran’s nuclear program, against the maximalist demands of the United States and specifically of Donald Trump toward the Islamic Republic.
This is an apparently technical Russian intervention, which nevertheless puts a tombstone on American claims regarding zero uranium enrichment.
At the same time, the Revolutionary Guards declare in all directions that they will cause a triple shock in oil, carrying out an energy strike on American hubs in the Gulf.
Specifically, Tehran announced that it will target oil installations in the Gulf, including Aramco and Yanbu in Saudi Arabia and Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
Rosatom bombshell: The Bushehr nuclear facility will be restored immediately
The head of Rosatom announced readiness to complete the new units of the nuclear power plant at the Bushehr facility.
According to the Tasnim news agency, Alexei Likhachev, head of Rosatom, emphasized Russia’s readiness to continue cooperation with the Islamic Republic of Iran for the completion of the nuclear power plant at Bushehr.
He stated: “Rosatom intends to resume construction of the new units of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran as soon as possible, once peace is established.”
Iran committed to facilitating passage of Russian ships through the Strait of Hormuz
For its part, Iran confirmed its readiness to do everything possible to ensure the uninterrupted passage of Russian ships and cargo through the Strait of Hormuz, as officially reported on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the ministry’s announcement, on April 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi.
The Iranian diplomat shared with his Russian counterpart Tehran’s position regarding violations of the ceasefire by the United States.
These violations included the seizure of an Iranian container ship and the illegal naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
“The Iranian side confirmed its readiness to do everything in its power to ensure the uninterrupted passage of Russian vessels and cargo through the aforementioned waterway,” the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
For its part, the Russian side reiterated the need to maintain the ceasefire, which must be observed within the parameters initially agreed and announced by the Pakistani mediators.
They also emphasized the importance of continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent uncontrolled escalation and a relapse into a new armed confrontation.
During the conversation, Sergey Lavrov also confirmed Russia’s readiness to facilitate the achievement of mutually acceptable agreements between Iran and the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf.
Pezeshkian: Iran will not yield to American-Israeli violence - We will not surrender
Indicative of the above was the intervention of the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian, on April 20.
The Iranian President stated specifically: “They want Iran to surrender. The Iranian people will not yield to violence.”
According to the Tasnim news agency, President Masoud Pezeshkian wrote the following on his personal page on the social network X:
“Respect for commitments is the logical basis for any dialogue. Beyond the deep historical distrust that exists in Iran regarding the record of behavior and actions of the US government, the non-constructive and contradictory approach of American officials in recent days conveys a bitter message: They want Iran to surrender. The Iranian people will not yield.”
Iran prepares energy strangulation at 3 strategic hubs
Meanwhile, Iran declares itself ready and closely monitors the repositioning of US forces, which it attributes either to an exercise of “psychological pressure” ahead of negotiations or to preparation for a “surprise and rapid military attack.”
It also warns that in the event of an attack, it will once again target Aramco, Yanbu, and Fujairah.
?? Saudi Aramco, Yanbu Refinery & ?? UAE Fujairah Pipeline 'Will Be Added To Iran's Target List If ?? Trump Makes A Mistake'
— Asad Nasir (@asadnasir2000) April 7, 2026
— ?? Iran's Tasnim News. pic.twitter.com/GfUYq8wDTK
The IRGC made it clear: if this war seriously restarts, Bab al-Mandeb, the export hub of Saudi Aramco in Yanbu, the Fujairah terminal in the United Arab Emirates, and the entire Red Sea route will turn into battlefields.
No vague warnings.
No diplomatic theater.
Only cold, calculated deterrence.
Ghalibaf: End of passivity, Iran moves to offense
Not coincidentally, Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, member of the Internal Affairs Committee of Parliament, stated that any passivity toward America is unacceptable.
He added that the stance of the Islamic Republic must shift from a “defensive” to an “offensive” position, as Donald Trump has entered into multifaceted political games with “repeated lies” and is in no way reliable.
We write the rules in the Strait of Hormuz
At the same time, Iran, through Tasnim, sent a highly symbolic message to the United States regarding the Strait of Hormuz.
More specifically, the Revolutionary Guards stated:
“The sea is calm, but this calm is the kind of silence in which a steel will is hidden. Here, the Strait of Hormuz constitutes the vital artery of global energy, a waterway where these days the rules of the game are not written in the White House, but on the decks of Iranian vessels. While hours remain until the deadline for the ceasefire expires and America’s retreat regarding the lifting of the blockade continues, the Islamic Republic of Iran has proven that the key to this strategic lock lies only in the hands of the children of this land and these waters.”
Iran struck American warships with drones
The Iranian Armed Forces announced that they launched drone attacks against American warships in response to the seizure of a vessel belonging to the Islamic Republic.
A spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the Iranian Armed Forces emphasized that the Iranian ship seized by the American military was en route from China to the Gulf of Oman.
It was fired upon, violating the ceasefire, and its navigation system was disabled.
In response, Iran attacked the American ships using drones.
A spokesperson for the central headquarters emphasized that the Armed Forces of the Republic intend to continue responding to “piracy” and attacks by the United States.
The spokesperson for the Iranian army stated that “the aggressive United States, violating the ceasefire and engaging in maritime robbery, opened fire on an Iranian commercial ship in the waters of the Sea of Oman, disabled its navigation system and, by landing a number of terrorist marines on the deck of the specific vessel, committed an act of aggression against it.”
“We warn that the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond to this piratical and armed action of the American military and will retaliate,” the Iranian official noted.
Attack on the Iranian container ship Toska by the American navy, they are pirates of the sea.
The largest military power in the world has become the leader of pirates, emphasize the Iranians.
American terrorist soldiers attacked an Iranian container ship named Toska, which was traveling from China to Iran, in the Gulf of Oman.
After the Americans attacked this ship, Iranian forces also attacked some American military ships with drones.
Trump claimed that American terrorists had captured the ship.
Iran has already announced that it will retaliate for any action by the Americans.
At the same time as the announcement of a naval blockade of Iran by the United States, Iran also completely closed the Strait of Hormuz, and any ship or tanker passing through the area without Iranian permission will be punished by Iranian forces.
CENTCOM: The ship seized by the US was heading to Bandar Abbas of Iran
The cargo ship Toska, seized by the United States, was heading toward the port of Bandar Abbas of Iran, emphasized the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
“The guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance intercepted the Toska as it crossed the Arabian Sea at 17 knots (31.4 km/h), heading toward Bandar Abbas of Iran,” the American command said.
According to the American military, the crew of the Toska, which was sailing under the Iranian flag, did not respond to repeated warnings for six hours, after which the USS Spruance fired several rounds from a Mark 45 127 mm gun at the ship’s engine room.
Then, marines boarded the Toska, according to CENTCOM.
Abbas Araghchi (foreign minister of Iran): Lack of US seriousness in resolving the conflict is evident
Threats against Iranian ships by American forces and Washington’s unreasonable demands toward Tehran confirm the lack of seriousness of the United States regarding resolving the situation in the Persian Gulf, said Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a telephone conversation with the Pakistani Foreign Minister.
“Threats to Iranian ports and ships, as well as Washington’s unreasonable demands, demonstrate the lack of seriousness of the United States regarding resolving the situation in the region,” he said. Araghchi added that, in his view, “the contradictory position of the United States and violations of the ceasefire demonstrate America’s bad intentions.”
The Iranian Foreign Minister emphasized that his country “will use all available means to protect its interests and national security.”
At the same time, he confirmed “the continuation of consultations to maintain peace and security in the region.”
Iran is ready for a new war - It will launch hundreds of missiles in the first hours
Iran is ready for the possibility of the re-emergence of war.
Iran is ready to create difficult moments for America and Israel with the reconstruction and preparations of the last two weeks.
Monitoring of American movements in recent days indicates specific actions, some of which are as follows:
1) Movements of certain American warships
2) Creation of an unprecedented airlift for transporting equipment
3) Participation of several heavy aircraft C5 and C17 for transporting weapons
4) Exercise of island seizure in Bahrain and rapid occupation of coasts
5) Extensive flights of American reconnaissance drones over the islands
6) Movement of certain American defense systems in the region
Iran examines two scenarios
Therefore, Iran is examining two scenarios simultaneously and has taken the necessary measures for both.
The first scenario is that the United States is using these preparations to create psychological pressure in order to extract concessions in the negotiation room.
On one hand, America threatens and on the other, it continuously intensifies the pulse of negotiations in the media.
Iran has presented its proposals based on realism and the fundamental rights of the Iranian people, and it is America that must stop being overly ambitious.
Therefore, just as such pressures and threats had no effect at the negotiation table in the past, they will have no effect this time either.
They are preparing for a surprise and rapid military attack on certain Iranian islands
The second scenario concerns the preparation of a surprise and rapid military attack on certain Iranian islands.
The Americans have great experience in deception through negotiations and attacked Iran twice during the year during negotiations, while continuously speaking about the progress of negotiations.
Iran is fully prepared this time as well and has essentially considered the war scenario more likely than the continuation of negotiations.
Therefore, Iran is ready to establish unforgettable hours of hell from the very beginning of the conflict with the United States and Israel, with the reorganizations and preparations it has made over the past two weeks.
Also, an analysis of Iran’s positions shows that if war begins and infrastructure is targeted again, Iran will completely abandon some of its first-round war restrictions regarding Aramco, Yanbu, and Fujairah.
Mass strikes
Even more striking are reports that, in the event of new attacks on Iranian infrastructure, Tehran may abandon previous restrictions and expand potential targets to energy facilities such as Saudi Aramco, Yanbu, and Fujairah.
Developments are intensifying fears that the region is now approaching not just simple escalation, but an open military confrontation with broader regional consequences.
It is worth noting that Iranian officials consider it quite likely that the United States may attack before the expiration of the ceasefire on April 21, 2026.
It is recalled that the American president threatened unprecedented bombings of Iran’s civilian infrastructure if it does not sign an agreement.
Tehran, for its part, responded that it does not intend to send a negotiating team to Pakistan if the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf is not lifted.
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