Trump open to Iran sanctions relief for ‘concrete progress’ on nuclear issues, US official says

Washington is signaling it could loosen sanctions on Iran and unfreeze its money, but only in exchange for real movement on the country's nuclear program, a US official told CNN on Monday. The comments come as intermediaries work to get the two governments talking again, and the official described the exchanges so far as "positive and constructive" while stressing that nothing will be finalized unless nuclear questions are resolved.

President Donald Trump on Saturday turned down an Iranian plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling it "unacceptable," and told Axios the next day that he still expects further talks this week. On Truth Social Monday he denied giving Tehran any concession, writing that he "offered them NOTHING!" Iran, he said Sunday, had "overplayed their hand." Leading the American side are Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Iran has shown flexibility on nuclear matters, according to the official, though the two countries have not settled when any commitments would take effect.

Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, defended the rejection in Sunday television interviews. He told CNN's Jake Tapper that Iran wanted all its benefits first and only afterward promised to negotiate, and told NBC he considered the offer a cynical attempt to present something Tehran knew would be refused. The official added that American skepticism is rooted in Iran's breach of the July memorandum of understanding, when it fired on commercial vessels.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →