Trump denies Axios report that he offered Iran sanctions relief

President Trump on Monday denied reporting from Axios that suggested he is willing to provide Iran with sanctions relief and unfreeze Iranian funds so that the regime can re-examine its nuclear program .

“Axios just released a story that ‘Trump’ offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran,” Trump wrote on Truth Social . “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!”

Citing U.S. officials, Axios reported that the relief comes as mediators from Qatar and Pakistan work to have the U.S. and Iran strike a deal. They met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York City on Monday, with Qatari mediators expected to meet with the Trump administration later Monday or Tuesday.

A U.S. official told the outlet that the indirect talks have been “positive and constructive,” and that Iran “has indicated they are flexible on the nuclear issues.” The official added that there will be no deal unless Iran’s nuclear program is “addressed.”

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

The outlet stated that Trump’s reported offer “provides a glimmer of hope for a diplomatic breakthrough” after Trump on Saturday rejected Iran’s seven-day peace proposal. The Iranian offer would have led to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, brought a ceasefire to all hostilities and resumed negotiations over its nuclear program.

Trump said he expects U.S. officials to negotiate with Iran this week , telling Axios on Sunday that the regime wants “to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make.” He warned that he is “always thinking” about resuming strikes on Iran, as the war hit the seven-month mark on Monday.

Officials in Tehran are seeking several concessions from the U.S., including an end to the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports, waivers on sanctions against Iranian oil sales and extending any ceasefire to Lebanon, the Associated Press reported . These concessions were part of the rejected peace offer.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Trump rejected the offer because Iran 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 “State of the Union” with CNN’s Jake Tapper.