President Donald Trump said an Axios report claiming that he offered Iran sanctions relief in exchange for nuclear concessions is false.

Axios journalist Barak Ravid reported that US officials told him the President had offered to lift sanctions and unfreeze Iranian assets in return for concrete steps on Iran’s nuclear program. Shortly after the report was published, Trump denied making the offer on Truth Social. 

“Axios just released a story that ‘Trump’ offered Sanctions Relief and Frozen Funds to Iran. This is untrue,” he wrote. “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!”

The attack on Ravid and Axios is notable, as Trump has repeatedly given interviews to the outlet, including an interview with Ravid just one day earlier.

While Trump denies that he offered to lift sanctions on Iran in the current negotiations, sanctions relief has previously been part of agreements negotiated by his administration. The June memorandum of understanding signed by Trump provided Iran with sanctions relief to sell oil and contemplated broader sanctions relief and access to frozen funds if Tehran reached a final nuclear agreement with Washington

At the same time, the current US strategy calls for leveraging economic warfare against the Islamic Republic to force the Iranian government to sign a deal on the President’s terms.

A US official told Axios that Qatari and Pakistani mediators are currently working to bridge the gaps between Washington and Tehran, describing the indirect talks as “positive and constructive” and adding that Iran “has indicated they are flexible on the nuclear issues.”

The official noted that issues remained, including timing. “The sides still remain apart on the timing of the commitments and who takes which steps first,” they told the outlet.