Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief, release of frozen funds

President Donald Trump vehemently denied a report by Axios, stating that he offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds in an attempt to end the ongoing Middle East war. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared, "Axios just released a story that 'Trump' offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran.

This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING!" The Axios report alleged that Trump was open to granting Iran sanctions relief and releasing Iranian frozen funds in exchange for specific measures related to the nuclear program, citing unnamed US officials. Trump called the story a "HOAX" and demanded Axios retract it. The dispute unfolded as Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, prepared to meet with Qatari mediators in New York.

US and Iranian officials also met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week, with no further direct talks scheduled between Washington and Tehran. On Saturday, Trump rejected Iran's proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that transports a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied gas, which has been effectively blockaded by Iran since the war commenced with US and Israeli strikes on February 28. Oil prices surged to $107 following Trump's rejection of the Iran truce offer.