US President Donald Trump is willing to offer Iran sanctions relief and release frozen Iranian funds in exchange for concrete progress related to its nuclear programme, a US official told Axios and CNN on Monday.
Washington is engaging in “positive and constructive” talks through mediators, CNN quoted the official as saying, while stressing that the US would not finalise an agreement unless nuclear-related concerns were fully addressed.
The White House did not immediately respond to Anadolu’s request for comment.
The potential diplomatic opening comes after Trump rejected an Iranian proposal on Saturday aimed at easing tensions and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, calling Tehran’s conditions “unacceptable”.
Trump said on Sunday that he expected further negotiations with Iran this week, arguing that Iranian officials had “overplayed” their hand during earlier talks.
Iran pushes Strait of Hormuz proposal
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet mediators in New York on Monday to discuss proposals concerning the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations with Washington, Iranian news agency ISNA reported.
No US representative will attend the meeting, according to ISNA.
Araghchi and the Iranian delegation are expected to review the latest proposals and discuss the situation with mediators, the agency said.
At the start of his New York visit, Araghchi said Iran had proposed reopening the strait as part of an agreement to end the war, in exchange for the release of Iranian funds and assets that Tehran says have been unlawfully frozen.
ISNA said the proposal was conveyed to the US through mediators in New York.
Asked about Washington’s response to Iran’s seven-point proposal, Araghchi said: “We saw the initial reaction from the US president, but the mediators have not yet conveyed anything to us.”
“We are waiting for the intermediaries to convey a definitive response, and we will decide accordingly,” he added.
“In any case, our conditions are clear. Any progress toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz depends on those conditions being met, and we will not back down from them.”
Iran’s seven-point roadmap
The Iranian proposal calls for the Strait of Hormuz to return to normal maritime passage within a week.
Under the plan, the US would release frozen Iranian assets, lift oil sanctions and end its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran would then reopen the strategic waterway, with negotiations on a final agreement to follow.
The latest US position suggests Washington may be prepared to discuss some of Tehran’s economic demands, but the US official stressed that any agreement would depend on resolving concerns over Iran’s nuclear programme.
