Trump: I Did Not Offer to Ease Sanctions on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump denied on Tuesday that he offered Iran a reduction in sanctions and the release of frozen funds.

The U.S. president stated in a post on his Truth Social account: "Axios just published a report claiming that I offered Iran a reduction in sanctions and the release of frozen funds. This is not true; I have not offered them anything at all!"

Trump accused the report of being fake news and demanded its retraction, saying: "The Axios report - like most other reports - is pure fabrication, and is only used to satisfy their pathological obsession with me (what is known as 'Trump Derangement Syndrome'). They need to retract this fake story immediately!"

According to Axios, U.S. officials reported that Trump is willing to offer a reduction in sanctions imposed on Iran and the release of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for Tehran taking tangible steps regarding its nuclear program.

The U.S. message comes at a time when Qatar and Pakistan are intensifying mediation efforts again to reach an agreement between the U.S. and Iran, amid ongoing disputes between the two sides over key issues.

While Iran wants to focus the negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz and the American naval blockade, the Trump administration insists that any settlement must include Iranian concessions regarding the nuclear file, according to the website.

Despite Trump's rejection of the latest Iranian proposal, mediators believe that the new American offer could open the door to diplomatic progress.