One US official said the two sides had made progress in mediated talks on ending the seven-month war but continued to haggle over the sequencing of the next phases of an agreement, which would include reinstating an oil waiver letting Iran sell crude, giving Tehran access to some assets frozen overseas and allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to return.

President Donald Trump denied offering Iran anything, calling an Axios report that he was willing to give sanctions relief and release frozen funds in exchange for concrete nuclear concessions a hoax. "I offered them NOTHING!" he wrote on Truth Social, demanding the story be withdrawn. A source told Axios the talks are stuck, and Trump said Iran "will give up" and "will not have a nuclear weapon." US officials had earlier described the mediated discussions as positive and said Trump was open to sanctions relief and releasing frozen funds for nuclear concessions.

WTI crude fell to $90 even as Trump denied offering a deal. Iran says it remains ready for talks, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, now back in Tehran, saying Qatar will relay Washington's final response to its seven-point plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. An informed Iranian official told Press TV that reports of Iranian flexibility on the nuclear issue were incorrect, that Iran's position has not changed and that no discussions on the matter are currently taking place.