President Donald Trump speaks to journalists aboard Air Force One en route to South Korea on Oct. 29, 2025, in Japan. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump on Monday called for Axios to “withdraw” a “hoax” story that reported he offered sanctions relief and frozen funds to Iran.
Trump issued the denial on Truth Social after Axios reported, citing U.S. officials, that he was willing to provide Iran economic relief in return for “concrete” concessions involving Tehran’s nuclear program.
“Axios just released a story that ‘Trump’ offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING!” Trump wrote.
“Axios’ story, like most others, is a HOAX, used only for purposes of satisfying their Trump Derangement Syndrome,” he added. “They should withdraw this fake story, IMMEDIATELY!”
Axios updated its report to include Trump’s denial but maintained that U.S. officials had described sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian assets as potential incentives for nuclear concessions.
The dispute comes as Qatari and Pakistani mediators make another attempt to broker an agreement between Washington and Tehran.
Axios reported Monday that mediators were meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York and that Qatari mediators were expected to meet Trump administration officials later Monday or Tuesday.
One U.S. official characterized the indirect discussions as “positive and constructive,” while stressing that significant disagreements remain.
The administration is demanding nuclear concessions, while Iran has focused on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. naval blockade.
Trump told reporters Saturday that he rejected Iran’s latest peace proposal.
“We’re winning tremendously,” Trump said. “We have total control of the Hormuz Strait.”
He said Tehran wanted an agreement and added that he also favors making deals but called Iran’s latest proposal unacceptable.
Monday’s dispute also follows earlier negotiations in which economic relief was explicitly discussed with Tehran.
A U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding unveiled in June included sanctions waivers for Iranian oil sales during negotiations and provisions addressing frozen Iranian funds, with broader sanctions relief contemplated as part of a final nuclear agreement.
Axios reported Monday that the Trump administration believes its negotiating leverage is increasing as sanctions and the blockade put additional economic pressure on Tehran.
“The U.S. position gets stronger every day,” a U.S. official told the outlet, adding that Trump remains committed to preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
Trump’s rejection of Axios’ account, however, was unequivocal: “I offered them NOTHING!”
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