President Donald Trump has rejected as a “hoax” media reports that his administration was considering a $30 billion deal to assist Iran in developing civilian nuclear facilities.
The reports by CNN and NBC News that the Trump administration was looking at economic incentives for the Islamic Republic to halt its uranium enrichment follow the U.S. military bombing of Iranian nuclear sites.
Newsweek has contacted the Iranian foreign ministry for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump announced a ceasefire this week between Iran and Israel following U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear sites that followed Israel’s Operation Rising Lion aimed at curbing Tehran’s ability to make an atomic weapon.
Although Trump said the U.S. had obliterated Iran’s ability to make a bomb, preliminary intelligence suggests otherwise. Trump’s dismissal of the CNN and NBC reports comes amid concern about just how incapacitated Iran’s nuclear capacity is.
What To Know
CNN and NBC reported that the Trump administration had investigated financial incentives for Iran in return for it halting its uranium enrichment.
This included releasing billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets and helping it build a civilian nuclear program in a potential “$30 billion” deal.
The preliminary proposal is one of several the Trump administration is considering although there is no guarantee any would proceed, the outlets reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions.
But Trump hit back on Truth Social, in a post that said the reports were “fake news” which pushed a “ridiculous idea.”
“It’s just another HOAX put out by the Fake News in order to demean,” added the post. “These people are SICK!!!”
Any such deal as reported by CNN and NBC would be a major policy reversal for Trump who during his first term, pulled the U.S. out a 2015 nuclear deal struck with Iran under the Obama administration.
Trump also threatened to drop any sanctions relief for Iran after its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared victory in the war against Israel and downplayed the significance of U.S. attacks.
Trump said on Friday he had been working on sanctions relief for Iran but railed at the supreme leader’s “lie” and statement “of anger, hatred and disgust.”
Following Trump’s orders to attack Iran, the U.S. Senate rejected a Democrat-pushed resolution introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) that aimed to rein in the president’s ability to use military action against the Islamic Republic without congressional approval.
In a statement to Newsweek, National Iranian American Council (NIAC) President Jamal Abdi said despite the “disappointing” result of the vote, Trump had no authorization for war with Iran and the American people don’t want him to start one.
“We saw a near majority do the right thing and stand up against war and for democracy,” Abdi said. “We will continue to press the case that war with Iran is against U.S. interests and U.S. security, and redouble our work to prevent the conflict from reigniting.”
A state funeral was held on Saturday in Iran for dozens of military commanders and nuclear scientists who were killed during the 12-day conflict with Israel which had sought to destroy the Islamic Republic’s ability to make a nuclear bomb.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump on Truth Social: “Who in the Fake News Media is the SleazeBag saying that ‘President Trump wants to give Iran $30 Billion to build non-military Nuclear facilities.’ Never heard of this ridiculous idea.”
Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on X: “If President Trump is genuine about wanting a deal, he should put aside the disrespectful and unacceptable tone towards Iran’s Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.”
What Happens Next
Questions remain over Iran’s nuclear capabilities after the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi said it is still not known how much highly-enriched uranium and the centrifuges needed to purify it, were destroyed.
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