US President Donald Trump has denied media reports that he is willing to offer economic sanctions relief and release frozen funds to Iran in exchange for concrete progress related to its nuclear programme.
American news outlets Axios and CNN reported on Monday that the US president offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds, as the Middle East war drags on.
"Axios just released a story that 'Trump' offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING!," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Over the weekend, the US president rejected an Iranian proposal aimed at easing tensions and reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling Tehran's conditions "unacceptable" amid the seven-month Iran war.
Trump said on Sunday that he expects additional negotiations with Tehran this week, asserting that Iranian officials "overplayed" their hand during earlier talks.
Hopes of diplomatic breakthrough?
Qatari and Pakistani mediators have renewed efforts this week to broker a deal between Washington and Tehran.
It raises hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough after Trump rejected Iran’s latest proposal, according to Axios.
Trump told the outlet that he expected further talks this week.
“The Strait of Hormuz traffic continues to rise, and the blockade and sanctions continue to degrade Iran's position. The US position gets stronger every day, and President Trump remains patient and fully committed to his goal that Iran never have a nuclear weapon," a US official told Axios.
The official added that special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were leading Washington’s negotiating efforts.
