Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief for nuclear concessions

WASHINGTON: US ​President Donald Trump on Monday denied offering Iran sanctions relief and ‌the release of frozen funds in return for nuclear concessions from Tehran.

“This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, responding to ​an Axios report that cited US officials as saying that ​he was willing to give Iran sanctions relief and ⁠release Iranian frozen funds in return for “concrete” Iranian steps regarding ​the nuclear program.

The Axios report did not identify the US officials.

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CNN ​also reported, citing an unidentified US official, that Trump was willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release frozen funds as part of a final deal ​on the condition that Iran offered “concrete progress” on the nuclear ​issue.

Trump has offered shifting goals and timelines for the Iran war that began on ‌February ⁠28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed ​thousands and displaced millions.

US ​and Iranian officials spoke ⁠separately with mediators on Monday as part of a renewed effort to end seven months of ​war, according to officials of both countries.

Trump has cited ​weakening ⁠Iran’s nuclear capabilities as one of his war objectives.

Iran, which does not have nuclear weapons, denies seeking them.

The US is nuclear-armed.

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Tehran says ⁠it ​has the right to develop nuclear technology ​for peaceful purposes as a party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.