President Donald Trump has sharply rejected a report claiming the United States was prepared to offer Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian funds in exchange for concrete progress on its nuclear programme. Trump called the Axios report “untrue,” said he offered Tehran “nothing,” and demanded that the outlet withdraw what he described as a fake story. The report had cited U.S. officials as saying Washington was willing to consider economic relief for Iran if Tehran took specific steps on its nuclear programme. CNN also separately reported that sanctions relief and frozen Iranian funds could form part of a potential agreement. WATCH

The US-Iran standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has entered another tense phase, with Washington dismissing Tehran’s latest proposal to reopen the crucial waterway as a “cynical” attempt to secure major concessions before substantive negotiations begin. US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said Iran was seeking the release of frozen Iranian assets, sanctions relief and an end to the US naval blockade in exchange for reopening the Strait and moving towards talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has strongly rejected Washington’s account, arguing that the conditions outlined by Tehran concern what Iran considers its rights and insisting that the country remains prepared for diplomacy. US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s latest offer, but Washington has continued to signal that diplomacy has not been completely ruled out. Waltz said Trump would keep “all options on the table”, while Trump has indicated that further indirect talks with Iran could take place.