US President Donald Trump on Monday denied that he had offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Axios had published a report “claiming that I offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen money. This is not true.”
He added that the report, “like most of their other reports, is pure fabrication, used only to satisfy their pathological obsession with attacking me, what is known as ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’ They should immediately withdraw this false story.”
Axios had quoted a US official on Monday as saying that Trump was prepared to offer Iran sanctions relief and release frozen Iranian funds in exchange for tangible progress on its nuclear program.
The development comes as mediators intensify efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran amid disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program, US sanctions and the status of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, said Iran held talks with Qatari mediators in New York on Monday to discuss ideas aimed at finding a way forward that would meet Iran’s conditions, according to Iran’s state news agency IRNA.
Araghchi said the talks focused on ways to “find a way forward to meet Iran’s conditions” and how those conditions could be fulfilled.
He said Qatar would present the outcome of the discussions to the United States, after which the final US response would be conveyed to Iran. Araghchi expressed hope that the response would be received on Tuesday.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for global oil supplies and a central issue in the conflict between the United States and Iran, which has reached an impasse after nearly seven months. Since then, Iran has effectively closed the strait, while the United States has responded by imposing a blockade on Iranian ports.
The United States has not carried out strikes against Iran since September 1, despite subsequent attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Reuters
