U.S. May Lift Sanctions if Iran Makes Nuclear Concessions... Mediation Talks Gain Momentum

[Financial News] A claim has emerged that Donald Trump, who rejected a proposal put forward by Iran this month, is willing to ease sanctions on Iran and unfreeze funds held overseas. However, Trump is believed likely to act only if Iran takes concrete measures related to its nuclear weapons program.
Axios reported this on the 28th (local time), citing multiple government officials. An anonymous U.S. official said that if Iran makes concessions regarding its nuclear weapons program, the United States could also enter negotiations.
The mediation team from Qatar and Pakistan working to broker an end to the war with Iran met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York that day. They discussed a Qatari mediation proposal that had been under consideration in recent days. The Qatari mediation team was reportedly scheduled to meet with U.S. government officials late on the 28th or on the 29th to seek a compromise.
A U.S. official described the mediation team's dialogue efforts as "positive and constructive" and stated, "Iran has indicated that it may be able to show flexibility on the nuclear issue." The official emphasized that differences between the two sides remain, saying, "There will be no agreement unless the nuclear issue is resolved." The official added, "The two sides still differ over when to fulfill their commitments and which side should take which measures first."
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 27th that Middle Eastern countries mediating the negotiations were demanding nuclear-related concessions from Iran. The WSJ explained that Trump was shifting the focus of the recent war from recapturing the Strait of Hormuz back to its original objective: denuclearizing Iran. On the 27th, Trump claimed that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons was "the key to everything."
Assessments are emerging in the United States and elsewhere that as Iran gradually loses control over the Strait of Hormuz, the initiative in the negotiations has shifted toward the United States. A U.S. official claimed, "Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to increase, while the blockade and sanctions continue to weaken Iran's position," adding, "The U.S. negotiating position is growing stronger."
Meanwhile, Donald Trump mentioned the Axios article on Truth Social on the 28th and rebutted it, saying, "That is not true. I have proposed nothing." He added, "The Axios article is a lie. This fake story must be retracted immediately."
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