Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Trump Denies Iran Sanctions Offer as Ceasefire Talks Resume
Donald Trump says he did not offer Iran sanctions relief or access to frozen money.
Axios and CNN reported that he was willing to consider those steps if Iran made concrete progress on its nuclear program.
Iran says it does not want nuclear weapons and wants peaceful nuclear technology.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran is ready to discuss its nuclear program but will not accept threats or coercion.
Officials from the United States and Iran spoke separately through mediators on Monday.
Iran proposed a seven-day plan to stop fighting and ease economic pressure.
The plan also connects the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the unfreezing of assets, lifting oil sanctions, and removing the United States blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump said he rejected the plan, but Iran said it was still waiting for an official response.
The talks aim to end a seven-month war that has disrupted energy supplies and raised oil prices.
Donald Trump denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds for nuclear concessions.
United States and Iranian officials held separate mediated discussions on Monday to pursue an end to the seven-month war.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran was awaiting Washington’s definitive response to its ceasefire proposal.
Iran’s seven-day plan calls for ending hostilities, unfreezing Iranian assets, lifting oil sanctions, and removing the United States blockade on Iranian ports.
Trump said he rejected the proposal, while Iran said mediators had not formally conveyed a rejection and further talks were expected.
- Who
- Donald Trump, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and officials from the United States and Iran.
- What
- The United States and Iran resumed mediated ceasefire discussions while Trump denied offering sanctions relief or frozen funds.
- When
- The latest mediated contacts occurred on Monday, September 29, after a war lasting about seven months.
- Where
- The discussions took place through mediators; Araqchi remained in New York after United Nations meetings, and the Strait of Hormuz is central to Iran’s proposal.
- Why
- The talks seek to end the war, address Iran’s nuclear program, ease economic restrictions, and establish conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Position
Trump’s Position
Sanctions and frozen funds
Iran’s Position
Iran’s proposed plan seeks the unfreezing of billions of dollars in assets and an end to sanctions on Iranian oil.
Trump’s Position
Trump denies offering sanctions relief or the release of frozen Iranian funds.
Negotiations
Iran’s Position
Iran says only diplomacy can resolve the conflict and is awaiting a definitive United States response through mediators.
Trump’s Position
Trump said he rejected Iran’s proposal, while also indicating that United States negotiators would hold further talks.
Strait of Hormuz
Iran’s Position
Iran says reopening the strait depends on its conditions being met, including measures linked to the ceasefire and economic restrictions.
Trump’s Position
Trump said Iran was seeking an immediate reopening of the strait because of severe economic pressure.
Nuclear program
Iran’s Position
Iran says it does not seek nuclear weapons, has accepted that it should not develop them, and has the right to peaceful nuclear energy.
Trump’s Position
Trump identifies preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb and addressing its highly enriched uranium as key objectives.
- Reported offer
- Axios and CNN, citing unidentified United States officials, reported that Trump was willing to consider sanctions relief and the release of frozen Iranian funds for concrete nuclear-related steps.
- Trump’s response
- Trump wrote on Truth Social, “This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING.”
- Iranian position
- Pezeshkian said Iran was ready to discuss its nuclear program and other issues but would not accept bullying or coercion.
- Seven-day proposal
- Iran’s plan calls for an end to hostilities, economic measures, and renewed nuclear negotiations.
- Economic conditions
- The proposal seeks the unfreezing of billions of dollars in Iranian assets, an end to oil sanctions, and the lifting of the United States blockade on Iranian ports.
- Strait of Hormuz
- Iran says reopening the major oil-shipping route depends on its conditions being met.
- Previous ceasefires
- The United States and Iran previously reached mediated ceasefires in April and June, but both agreements quickly unraveled.
- Economic impact
- The war disrupted global energy supplies, contributed to higher oil prices, and fueled inflation.
