Trump accuses Axios of "fake" report on Iran sanctions relief

U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Axios of publishing a false report claiming that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for concessions on its nuclear program.

“Axios just released a story that “Trump” offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING! Axios’ story, like most others, is a HOAX, used only for purposes of satisfying their Trump Derangement Syndrome. They should withdraw this fake story, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote.

Axios, citing U.S. officials, reported that Trump was willing to provide Iran with sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in return for concrete Iranian steps concerning its nuclear program. The report came as Qatari and Pakistani mediators were working to facilitate an agreement between Washington and Tehran. The mediators met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York City on Monday, while Qatari mediators were expected to meet with the Trump administration later Monday or Tuesday.

A U.S. official told Axios that the indirect talks had been “positive and constructive” and that Iran “has indicated they are flexible on the nuclear issues.” The official added that there would be no agreement unless Iran’s nuclear program was “addressed.”

“The sides still remain apart on the timing of the commitments and who takes which steps first,” the official told Axios.

Axios reported that Trump’s alleged offer “provides a glimmer of hope for a diplomatic breakthrough” after Trump rejected Iran’s seven-day peace proposal on Saturday. The Iranian proposal called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an end to hostilities and the resumption of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program.

Despite rejecting the proposal, Trump said he expected U.S. officials to negotiate with Iran this week. In an interview with Axios on Sunday, he said the Iranian regime wants “to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make.” He also said he is “always thinking” about resuming strikes on Iran as the war reached its seven-month mark on Monday.

Iranian officials are seeking several concessions from Washington, including an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, waivers on sanctions affecting Iranian oil sales and an extension of any ceasefire to Lebanon, the Associated Press reported. Those demands were included in Iran’s rejected peace proposal.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump rejected the proposal because Iran had asked for “everything up front.”

“They were asking for relief from billions and billions of sanctions that are going into place as Operation Economic Fury, but also … snapback sanctions from the United Nations that have been in place for many years,” Waltz said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper.

By Tamilla Hasanova