US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Iran has requested the lifting of heavy American sanctions, adding that he is open to discussing the matter. Speaking during a dinner with Central Asian leaders, Trump said, “Frankly, Iran has been asking if the sanctions could be lifted. Iran has got very heavy US sanctions, and it makes it really hard. I’m open to hearing that, and we’ll see what happens.”
The statement comes amid renewed tensions following a 12-day war between Israel and Iran earlier this year, which saw unprecedented Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and a retaliatory wave of missile and drone attacks by Tehran. The conflict also briefly drew in the United States, which conducted limited strikes on Iranian facilities.
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Western powers have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran denies, maintaining that its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes. Trump asserted that Iran, once “the bully of the Middle East,” no longer poses a nuclear threat, claiming US-backed strikes had “obliterated” its nuclear capability, though the extent of the damage remains unclear.
The United Nations in September reinstated sanctions on Iran under the “snapback” mechanism after Britain, France, and Germany triggered the process, citing Iran’s continued nuclear activity. The sanctions prohibit dealings related to Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, further deepening its economic isolation.
Read More: UN Sanctions Return as Iran Faces Renew
Oman, which has previously hosted backchannel talks between Washington and Tehran, has urged both nations to return to negotiations aimed at securing a new nuclear agreement. The proposed deal would limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the easing of sanctions — a goal that now appears to hinge on Trump’s willingness to re-engage diplomatically.