Trump Denies Offering Iran Sanctions Relief for Nuclear Concessions
US President Donald Trump takes questions at the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., US, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
US President Donald Trump on Monday denied offering Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds in return for nuclear concessions from Tehran.
"This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING," Trump wrote on Truth Social, responding to an Axios report that cited US officials as saying that he was willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release Iranian frozen funds in return for "concrete" Iranian steps regarding the nuclear program.
CNN also reported, citing an unidentified US official, that Trump was willing to give Iran sanctions relief and release frozen funds as part of a final deal on the condition that Iran offered "concrete progress" on the nuclear issue.
Trump has offered shifting goals and timelines for the Iran war that began on February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran and Tehran responded with its own strikes on Israel and other states.
US and Iranian officials spoke separately with mediators on Monday as part of a renewed effort to end seven months of war, according to officials of both countries.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he expected a formal answer on Tuesday from the US to Tehran's proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz, state media reported.
Qatari intermediaries "presented ideas, and we discussed them; they are set to raise the matter with the American side once more, after which the final US response will be conveyed to us," Araghchi said late Monday.
Iran's top diplomat, who is in New York for the UN General Assembly, said "the Qataris hope this will be done by tomorrow.”
"The current focus is solely on the Strait of Hormuz, and the reopening of the strait is contingent upon the fulfilment of certain conditions that we have communicated to the other side," he added.
The Strait of Hormuz lies at the heart of the conflict between the United States and Iran.
CNN, MS NOW, Politico Ask Judge to Extend Block on White House Banhttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5323735-cnn-ms-now-politico-ask-judge-extend-block-white-house-ban
A CNN camera sets up before President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at the National Archives Museum, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
CNN, MS NOW, Politico Ask Judge to Extend Block on White House Ban
A CNN camera sets up before President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at the National Archives Museum, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a federal judge late on Monday to issue a court order preserving their White House access while they fight US President Donald Trump's move to ban them over coverage he dislikes.
The news outlets asked a judge overseeing their case in Washington, DC, federal court to grant a preliminary injunction blocking Trump's bans until there is a final ruling in the case, Reuters reported.
US District Judge Timothy Kelly previously issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking the bans, finding they likely violated the news outlets' rights to fair legal treatment.
The outlets said in their September 21 lawsuit that Trump's bans were unlawful viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees free speech and free press rights.
The Justice Department said Trump lawfully banned the outlets after determining their coverage threatened national security by revealing classified information.
Trump said in a September 18 social media post that he was banning the outlets for “reporting FAKE NEWS” and that they "shouldn't be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES.”
Trump has frequently clashed with the media in his second term and personally sued outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BBC for defamation.
UK Police Release on Bail 5 Men Held over Airbase Incidenthttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5323731-uk-police-release-bail-5-men-held-over-airbase-incident
Armed police officers work on a road outside the perimeter of the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard
UK Police Release on Bail 5 Men Held over Airbase Incident
Armed police officers work on a road outside the perimeter of the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard
British police said Monday five men arrested near an airbase used by the United States were released on bail, as Washington asserted a "foreign actor" was involved in the suspected bomb plot.
US President Donald Trump, speaking in Washington, said he was "surprised that they released them", adding that "I wouldn't have done that".
The release of the five -- all London-based Britons in their mid-20s -- came as British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced an emergency meeting of top officials to ensure they have "the full picture".
Earlier, Iran had denied involvement in any plot to target the Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford base in Gloucestershire, southwest England, following the security scare there early Sunday.
Here's what we know so far:
UK counter-terror police are leading the investigation after authorities received reports Sunday of three "suspicious" white vans near the airbase, which has been used by the United States to bomb Iran.
Police said in their latest update Monday that the five men held, who all live in inner London boroughs, were being released on bail.
"This does not mean the investigation is over," Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said, adding the five would be subject to "stringent" bail conditions.
He said officers were "considering this from every possible angle, including that this may be activity committed by proxies, or individuals either knowingly or unknowingly, working on behalf of a foreign state".
B‑1B Lancer bomber at the RAF Fairford airbase, in Fairford, Gloucestershire, Britain, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Shepheard
The men were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and "preparation of a terrorist act" under UK anti-terrorism laws, according to police.
They had been travelling in the three suspect vehicles, which have since been subject to "extensive examination, with the support of military assets and forensic experts".
According to AFP, authorities have not confirmed details of the threat but bomb-disposal experts were seen working at the scene.
The Daily Mail and Press Association both reported late Monday they understood from sources that tests on materials in the back of the vans established they were "not viable explosives".
A farmer living in the village of Whelford near the airbase said she rang the police after seeing the vans blocking a road and a group of masked men.
The anonymous woman told media on Monday that she believed the police had "dropped the ball" on the threat.
But UK Defense Minister Wes Streeting said the farmer only had a "partial picture".
Trump said on Sunday that Britain and United States had had the suspects "under investigation" for a while and alleged "they were looking to do big damage to our fort".
British newspaper front pages reporting the police declaration of a major incident at RAF Fairford airbase, in this illustration, September 28, 2026. REUTERS/Toby Melville/Illustration
After hearing news of their bail, Trump said Monday the case "might be" linked to Iran but declined to elaborate.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the incident "clearly involves the hands of a foreign actor", without giving further details.
Iran's embassy in London said on X that it "categorically rejects and strongly condemns" the "unfounded and malicious speculations" that Tehran was involved.
Britain gave the United States permission in March to use Fairford for "specific defensive operations into Iran" to destroy Iranian missiles at source.
US bombers and other planes have since been seen taking off and landing from the base -- the only one on Britain's mainland used for this purpose.
Residents in the rural Cotswolds area surrounding Fairford said the site, which hosts a range of US military equipment and personnel, had seen increased activity and security in recent months.
Authorities evacuated around 85 households from the village early on Sunday, and they were allowed to return home the next day.
Tehran has previously warned London against allowing its bases to be used by the United States in operations against Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused London of "putting British lives in danger" by allowing the bases to be used "for aggression against Iran".
US, Iran Separately Talk with Mediators in Latest Bid to End Warhttps://english.aawsat.com/world/5323706-us-iran-separately-talk-mediators-latest-bid-end-war
An Iranian missile is displayed under the country's national flag in a military exhibition commemorating the anniversary of the start of the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war at Baharestan Square, in Tehran, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP)
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US, Iran Separately Talk with Mediators in Latest Bid to End War
An Iranian missile is displayed under the country's national flag in a military exhibition commemorating the anniversary of the start of the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war at Baharestan Square, in Tehran, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP)
US and Iranian officials spoke separately with mediators on Monday as part of a renewed effort to end seven months of war, according to officials of both countries.
Any further talks are expected to focus on an amended version of a seven-day proposal that Iran presented last week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, an official briefed on the negotiations told Reuters.
The war began in late February with US and Israeli attacks on Iran, killing thousands of people over seven months and shocking global markets as vital waterways for oil remained choked. The US and Iran have twice previously agreed to ceasefires in mediated peace talks, in April and June. Those agreements quickly unraveled.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who remained in New York after attending the General Assembly, said Iran expected to receive the US response to its latest ceasefire proposals and its conditions for restoring passage of maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, according to state news agency IRNA.
"If the Americans claim they are seeking an agreement or a peaceful solution, we have presented that solution," Araqchi said.
US officials separately spoke with mediators on Monday, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House, without giving further details.
TRUMP HAS FLAGGED FURTHER TALKS THIS WEEK
Iran's seven-day plan envisages an end to all hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, the unfreezing of billions of dollars' worth of Iranian assets, an end to sanctions on Iranian oil and the lifting of the US blockade on Iranian ports.
Iran would then allow the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital conduit for oil tankers, and the two sides would also resume talks on Iran's nuclear program and Trump's wish to seize or eliminate its highly enriched uranium.
Trump said on Saturday he had rejected Iran's proposal, saying Iran wanted a swift agreement because of the crippling economic pressure it is under. However, he also told Axios on Sunday that he expected US negotiators to engage in further talks this week.
Araghchi said on Sunday that mediators had not formally conveyed a US rejection, and that Iran was awaiting Washington's definitive position before deciding its next steps.
"Our conditions are clear, and any move toward reopening the Strait of Hormuz is contingent on these conditions being met," he said on Sunday, adding that only a negotiated solution could resolve the impasse.
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