WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump has firmly denied reports suggesting that his administration offered Iran $30 billion to develop a civilian nuclear energy program. He accused media outlets of spreading false information and dismissed the reports as “ridiculous.”
CNN and NBC News earlier reported that the Trump administration recently considered economic incentives for Iran in exchange for halting uranium enrichment. The reports cited anonymous sources, claiming the proposals were in early stages and not finalized.
Responding on Truth Social late Friday, Trump wrote, “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.” He labelled the story a “HOAX.”
Meanwhile, indirect talks between the US and Iran have been ongoing since April, aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to Iran’s controversial nuclear program. Iran insists its activities are peaceful, while Washington says it is working to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
Tensions escalated recently after the US struck Iranian nuclear sites and Iran responded by attacking a US base in Qatar. However, Trump announced a ceasefire earlier this week between Israel and Iran, temporarily calming the regional conflict that began on June 13.
Israel, widely believed to possess nuclear weapons, has long opposed Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It claimed that its military action aimed to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons, amid a broader regional crisis since the war on Gaza in 2023.