Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief, release of frozen funds

President Donald Trump on Monday denied reports claiming he offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds as the Middle East conflict continues. On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, "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 had suggested Trump was "willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release Iranian frozen funds in return for concrete Iranian steps regarding the nuclear program," according to unnamed U.S. officials. Trump labeled the story a "HOAX" and demanded Axios withdraw the report. The incident unfolds as Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was set to meet with Qatari mediators in New York on Monday.

US and Iranian officials had previously met in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last week, with no further direct talks between Washington and Tehran currently scheduled. Earlier this week, Trump rejected a proposal from Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway that carries a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied gas, which has been blocked by Iran since February 28 due to US and Israeli strikes. Oil prices surged to $107 per barrel following Trump's rejection of the Iran truce offer.