Trump denies offering Iran sanctions relief, slams Axios

US President Donald Trump launched a sharp attack overnight Monday on the news outlet Axios, following a report by Barak Ravid on a possible American proposal to Iran as part of ongoing contacts between the two sides.

Ravid reported in Axios, citing senior American officials, that Trump is prepared to grant Iran sanctions relief and even allow the release of frozen Iranian funds in exchange for concrete steps by Tehran on its nuclear program.

But shortly after publication, Trump flatly denied the report.

"Axios just published an article claiming that 'Trump' offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds. This is not true. I offered them nothing!" the president wrote.

Trump went on to attack the outlet: "The Axios article, like most of their other articles, is a fraud, designed only to satisfy their 'Trump Derangement Syndrome.' They must retract this false article, immediately!"

The public confrontation comes as mediators from Qatar and Pakistan are attempting to advance understandings between Washington and Tehran.

According to the original Axios report, the mediators met in New York with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to discuss a Qatari compromise proposal.

A senior American official who spoke with Axios described the indirect talks as "positive and constructive," and claimed that Iran had signaled willingness to show flexibility on issues related to its nuclear program. At the same time, the official made clear that from Washington's perspective, no agreement could be reached without real progress on the matter.

Significant gaps remain between the sides: according to the report, Tehran is seeking to focus on the Strait of Hormuz and on the economic and naval measures the US is applying against it, while the American administration is demanding progress on the nuclear program issue.