Axios

A House Democrat announced Monday she will introduce articles of impeachment against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth over his handling of U.S. operations in Iran.

Why it matters: Hegseth is emerging as Democrats' top target in the Trump Cabinet following the ousters of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

The U.S. military employed hundreds of people and some 176 aircraft over the weekend to rescue the crew of an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle downed deep inside Iran.

The big picture: This "air armada," as Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine described it at the White House on Monday, helped pull off a pair of "incredibly dangerous" extractions, bringing home the pilot and weapon-system officer (WSO).

• Their callsigns were Dude 44A and Dude 44B.

Newly released video contradicts federal claims that two Venezuelan immigrants assaulted an ICE agent with a snow shovel before an agent shot one of them during Operation Metro Surge.

Why it matters: The footage raises questions about why it took federal officials weeks to back off from their original story about — and drop criminal charges against — the wounded Julio Sosa-Celis and his roommate, Alfredo Aljorna.

Iran sent a 10-point response to the proposals under discussion with the U.S. for ending the war, according to U.S. officials and the Iranian state news agency IRNA.

Why it matters: The chances for a ceasefire deal before Trump's deadline of 8pm ET on Tuesday currently appear slim. Trump says without a deal by then, he will order massive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure. Iran says it would retaliate against energy and water facilities in the Gulf states.

Brent crude oil climbed more than 1% to above $110 per barrel when markets opened Sunday — only to decline slightly later — amid mixed signals about the Iran war that's creating unprecedented disruption to global energy flows.

Why it matters: President Trump is signaling major escalation, but also told Axios' Barak Ravid that the U.S. is in "deep negotiations" with Iran.

The sharp spike in gas and oil prices caused by the Iran war will likely lead to a further rise in food prices in the coming weeks, economists and agricultural experts tell Axios.

Why it matters: The war is just the latest stress driving up food inflation — on top of tariffs, rising electricity prices and an immigration crackdown that has driven up labor costs.

Even if the Iran war ended now and the Strait of Hormuz reopened, the crisis has lasted long enough to bring a meaningful and damaging toll worldwide.

Why it matters: "What began as a disruption in a key energy corridor is now feeding through the entire global economy," the UN's trade and development arm said in an analysis.

The U.S., Iran and a group of regional mediators are discussing the terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, according to four U.S., Israeli and regional sources with knowledge of the talks.

Why it matters: The sources said the chances for reaching a partial deal over the next 48 hours are slim. But this last-ditch effort could be the only chance to prevent a dramatic escalation in the war that will include massive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and retaliation against energy and water facilities in the Gulf states.

Pope Leo XIV and the top U.S. Catholic bishop for the military both used Easter Sunday to emphasize Jesus' message of peace amid the escalating Iran war.

Why it matters: The first U.S.-born pope urged those who "unleash wars" to lay down weapons as President Trump continued his increasingly aggressive wartime rhetoric on Sunday to demand that Tehran "Open the Fuckin' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."

President Trump threatened to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges starting Tuesday if the regime doesn't open the Strait of Hormuz.

Why it matters: Trump's 10-day deadline to Iran is expected to expire Monday. He previously threatened to bomb the country's energy, water and oil infrastructure if no deal was reached to open the strait.

President Trump claimed in an interview with Axios that the U.S. is "in deep negotiations" with Iran and that a deal can be reached before his deadline expires on Tuesday.

• "There is a good chance, but if they don't make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there," he said.

Why it matters: The mediators are less optimistic that a deal is close but say they will work to the last minute to reach at least a partial agreement to delay Trump's ultimatum. Trump has threatened to destroy infrastructure that is vital to Iranian civilians if he is unable to reach a deal with their leaders.

President Trump told Axios the U.S. initially worried that a message from the stranded crew member of an F-15 downed by Iran was a trick by the Iranians to lure U.S. forces into a trap.

The big picture: The crew member survived more than 24 hours in the mountains despite being wounded, before being rescued in a special forces operation on Saturday.

U.S. special forces rescued the second crew member of the F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iran, three U.S. officials tell Axios.

• The crew member, a weapons system officer, was wounded after ejecting from the aircraft on Friday but could still walk, and evaded capture in the mountains for more than a day, one of officials said.

The big picture: The shootdown was a nightmare scenario for the U.S. military, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also racing to locate the missing U.S. officer in southwest Iran. Both crew members were rescued in special forces operations inside Iran.