Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief, calls report a hoax
Photo: REUTERS
US President Donald Trump rejected media reports claiming that his administration offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds, labeling the story a hoax on social media.
Trump said on Truth Social, “This is untrue. I offered them nothing.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that discussions took place with Qatari mediators. He outlined the diplomatic exchange, saying, “They presented ideas, and we held a discussion that they will also raise with the American side; the final response from the US side will be conveyed to us subsequently, hopefully by tomorrow [Tuesday].”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump confirmed that US officials held separate talks with mediators on Monday, though he did not disclose additional details.
Expressing confidence in the outcome, he remarked, “We’re going to win, as far as I’m concerned, it’s going to be one way or the other. It’s going to go pretty quickly.”
Over the weekend, Trump also noted that he did not care about Iran’s comments regarding a potential deal. Although no face-to-face talks have occurred, recent confirmations indicate that both American and Iranian representatives are communicating through mediators believed to be Qataris to test positions and hold discussions.
US emphasized that Trump wants the Iran nuclear issue at the top of the agenda before moving on from these initial talks.
At the same time, discussions continue regarding how the US plans to maintain economic pressure on Iran through an ongoing blockade, even as the number of ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz increases.
Trump believes that sustained economic pressure could prompt citizens to take to the streets against the government and force regime change - an objective he raised on the first day of the war, which is now entering its eighth month.
Observers note that Trump possesses substantial patience, suggesting that his options - including maintaining the economic embargo, initiating military action, or pursuing diplomatic measures - can wait until after the midterm elections in around 35 days.
A key point in the official statement highlights that while Washington considers Iran untrustworthy due to an alleged breach of the memorandum of understanding, the negotiations focus heavily on sequencing - specifically determining who acts and commits first.
Once the parties establish sequencing, diplomatic movement may become possible, though analysts view progress before the upcoming midterm elections as unlikely.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged the Lebanese government to take decisive steps to disrupt financial networks associated with Iran and Hezbollah.
Following a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Finance Minister Yassine Jaber, Bessent posted on X that he stressed the urgency of implementing key financial sector reforms to rebuild trust in Lebanon’s banking system.
Source: Al Jazeera (adapted)
