US Official Says Trump Open to Iran Sanctions Relief Contingent on Nuclear Progress

President Donald Lu is willing to consider sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds for Iran as part of a final agreement, provided Tehran demonstrates "concrete progress" on the nuclear issue. A US official shared this development with CNN on Monday as mediators work to resume negotiations between the two nations.

The official noted that the United States is engaged in "positive and constructive discussions through the mediators," while emphasizing that any ultimate deal is contingent upon resolving nuclear concerns. On Saturday, President Donald Trump dismissed Iran's latest proposal regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, labeling the offer as "unacceptable." He subsequently mentioned to Axios on Sunday that he anticipates further talks with Iran throughout the week.

According to the US official, diplomatic efforts on the American side are being steered by special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Addressing the situation on Truth Social on Monday, President Donald Trump disputed claims that he had extended any concessions to Iran, asserting that he "offered them NOTHING!" He added on Sunday that while Tehran is interested in reaching an agreement, their terms do not align with his expectations.

While the US official stated that Iran has shown flexibility regarding nuclear matters, a consensus on the timeline for commitments remains elusive. In contrast, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected notions of any shift in Tehran's stance prior to leaving New York on Tuesday. He maintained that Iran's positions remain unchanged and emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz is currently the sole topic of discussion following meetings with a Qatari mediator.

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz explained on Sunday that President Donald Trump rejected the initial proposal due to a lack of faith in Iranian negotiations, criticizing Tehran for requesting all concessions upfront. Waltz further noted that the United States maintains deep skepticism regarding Iranian commitments, pointing to prior violations of the US-Iran memorandum of understanding.