Washington — Former U.S. President Donald Trump has categorically denied reports claiming that his administration had considered offering $30 billion in economic incentives to Iran to support the development of a civilian nuclear energy program.
The allegations, first reported by CNN on Thursday and later echoed by NBC News on Saturday, suggested that U.S. officials had recently floated preliminary proposals aimed at convincing Tehran to halt uranium enrichment. The reports, based on unnamed sources, described the discussions as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate nuclear tensions.
However, Trump took to Truth Social on Friday night to reject the claims outright.
“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 posted, branding the reports a “HOAX.”
Diplomatic Efforts and Rising Tensions
Since April, Washington and Tehran have been engaged in indirect diplomatic talks, attempting to find common ground on the future of Iran’s nuclear program. While Iran insists its ambitions are purely peaceful, the U.S. and its allies continue to seek assurances that Tehran will not pursue the development of nuclear weapons.
The media reports had surfaced against a backdrop of high-stakes negotiations and heightened regional tensions. Earlier this week, Trump had announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, halting a military conflict that erupted on June 13 after Israel launched a surprise strike on Iranian territory.
That brief but intense conflict saw a series of retaliatory actions, including U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and an Iranian missile strike targeting a U.S. military base in Qatar. The escalation had stoked fears of a broader war in a region already destabilized by Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza since October 2023.
Israel’s Stance and Strategic Concerns
Israel, widely believed to be the only nuclear-armed state in the Middle East, has consistently voiced concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Officials in Tel Aviv have justified their military campaign against Iran as a preemptive measure to prevent Tehran from achieving nuclear weapons capability.
While the ceasefire brought a temporary pause to hostilities, speculation over backchannel diplomacy and economic inducements has fueled political controversy — particularly among Trump’s critics and supporters of a more hawkish stance on Iran.
For now, Trump’s firm denial puts to rest the rumors of a financial offer tied to Iran’s nuclear program. But with indirect talks still underway and mutual distrust running deep, the path forward remains uncertain — and fraught with geopolitical risk.
