President Trump on Monday denied a report from Axios that said he had offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions, calling it a “hoax.”
“Axios just released a story that ‘Trump’ offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING!” he wrote on Truth Social.
“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 president added.
The report, which cited unnamed US officials, came after Trump said that he was “rejecting” an Iranian proposal that would involve the US ending its blockade of Iranian ports, lifting sanctions, and releasing frozen funds, in exchange for Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to Trump’s comments on Sunday, saying Iran still had not received an official US response through mediators. Araghchi remains in New York City, where he traveled to attend the UN General Assembly, and according to the Axios report, he met with Qatari and Pakistani mediators on Monday.
A diplomatic breakthrough is unlikely, as the two sides remain far apart and Trump doesn’t appear willing to fulfill the commitments the US made in June when it signed the short-lived Memorandum of Understanding. The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump expects to resume strikes on Iran after the midterm elections, and Araghchi has said Iran is ready to face another round of attacks, even if they are “apocalyptic,” though he continues to stress that Tehran prefers diplomacy.
