Trump rejects reports of sanctions relief offer to Iran over nuclear deal

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday denied reports that his administration had offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for concrete steps on its nuclear programme, after two US outlets gave differing accounts of the offer.

Axios reported, citing unidentified US officials, that Washington was prepared to ease sanctions and release Iranian funds as part of a potential agreement with Tehran. “This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING,” Trump said on Truth Social in response.

CNN separately reported, citing an unidentified US official, a more conditional version: that Trump was open to sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds only if Tehran showed concrete progress on the nuclear issue. It was not clear whether Trump’s denial was meant to cover that account as well.

The reports come as the Trump administration continues diplomatic efforts to end the war with Iran, now in its seventh month. Trump has outlined shifting objectives and timelines for the conflict, which began after the United States and Israel struck Iran; Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and on Gulf states hosting US military bases. The war has since widened, with Israeli military operations in Lebanon.

US and Iranian officials met separately with mediators on Monday as part of a renewed push to end the war, officials from both countries said. Trump has cited weakening Iran’s nuclear capabilities as a war objective; Iran says it does not seek nuclear weapons and, as a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.