President Trump on Monday forcefully denied a report from Axios that suggested he was prepared to offer Iran sanctions relief and the unfreezing of Iranian assets in exchange for a re-evaluation of Tehran's nuclear program. In a post on Truth Social, Trump characterized the story as a fabrication, insisting he had offered "NOTHING" to the Iranian regime.
"Axios just released a story that 'Trump' offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran," Trump wrote. "This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING! Axios' story, like most others, is a HOAX, used only for purposes of satisfying their Trump Derangement Syndrome. They should withdraw this fake story, IMMEDIATELY!"
The Axios report, citing U.S. officials, claimed that the purported offer came as Qatari and Pakistani mediators work to broker a deal between Washington and Tehran. Those mediators met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York on Monday, with Qatari officials expected to meet with the Trump administration later in the day or on Tuesday.
A U.S. official told Axios that the indirect talks have been "positive and constructive," adding that Iran "has indicated they are flexible on the nuclear issues." The official stressed, however, that no agreement is possible unless Iran's nuclear program is "addressed." The same official acknowledged that "the sides still remain apart on the timing of the commitments and who takes which steps first."
The report described Trump's alleged offer as providing "a glimmer of hope for a diplomatic breakthrough" after the president rejected Iran's seven-day peace proposal on Saturday. That proposal would have reopened the Strait of Hormuz, initiated a ceasefire across all hostilities, and resumed nuclear negotiations.
Trump has indicated that U.S. officials are expected to engage with Iran this week, telling Axios on Sunday that Tehran "wants to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make." He also warned that he is "always thinking" about resuming strikes on Iran, as the conflict reached its seven-month mark on Monday.
Iranian officials are seeking several concessions from the United States, including the lifting of the naval blockade on Iranian ports, waivers on sanctions against Iranian oil sales, and an extension of any ceasefire to Lebanon, according to the Associated Press. These demands were part of the rejected peace offer.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz explained that Trump turned down the offer because Iran asked for "everything up front." In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," Waltz noted that Tehran was "asking for relief from billions and billions of sanctions that are going into place as Operation Economic Fury, but also ... snapback sanctions from the United Nations that have been in place for many years."
The denial comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions, with the Trump administration having recently faced international scrutiny over a U.S. strike in Iran, as detailed in a UN report fueling calls for a war crimes indictment. The administration's approach to Iran remains a flashpoint, drawing contrasts with previous diplomatic efforts, such as the nuclear framework under the Obama administration, which Trump has dismissed as "ridiculous."
