Sep 29, 2026 · 20 min
Baker previews Iran talks and Ukraine’s Donetsk gains
September 29th, 2026: Washington and Tehran Negotiating Behind the Scenes & Ukraine Gains Ground in Donetsk
The episode frames behind-the-scenes diplomacy with Iran alongside battlefield developments in Ukraine, linking negotiation and military pressure.
- 1Washington and Tehran are reportedly negotiating behind the scenes as Iranian officials weigh the role of the IRGC.
- 2Ukraine’s position around Slovyansk and broader gains in Donetsk receive attention amid its war with Russia.
- 3The briefing also touches on Israel, South Korea, and the wider strategic pressures shaping current foreign policy.
Don't miss
The episode’s clearest contrast is its pairing of quiet Washington–Tehran negotiations with Ukraine’s reported gains around Slovyansk.
The brief
Michael Baker opens the September 29 briefing by setting up a foreign-policy agenda that moves from Iran negotiations to Ukraine’s fight in Donetsk.
The central diplomatic thread concerns reported behind-the-scenes negotiations between Washington and Tehran, with Abbas Araghchi and the IRGC entering the discussion.
Ukraine’s gains around Donetsk, including the strategically important city of Slovyansk, provide the episode’s battlefield counterpoint to the diplomatic track.
References to Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Seoul widen the frame beyond Iran and Ukraine, placing the briefing within a broader security landscape.
Taken together, the episode presents diplomacy and battlefield movement as parallel forces shaping the day’s international agenda.
Featuring
Abbas Araghchi
Ukraine
Slovyansk
Benjamin Netanyahu
SeoulListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.