Blinken Says Trump's Reported Iran Proposal Mirrors Obama-Era Nuclear Deal; Trump Denies

On Monday, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken said President Donald Trump's reported offer of sanctions relief and access to frozen Iranian funds in exchange for nuclear concessions mirrors the deal he helped negotiate during the Obama era.

Trump Offers Sanctions Relief to Iran

Axios reporter Barak Ravid reported that a U.S. official said, "President Trump is willing to offer Iran sanctions relief and unfreeze funds in exchange for substantial progress on the nuclear issue."

Blinken Compares Trump's Proposal to Obama's Iran Deal

Blinken reposted Ravid's post on X and said the proposal resembles the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

"President Trump is now offering sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for concrete steps by Iran on its nuclear program," Blinken wrote.

He added, "Sound familiar? It is very similar to the nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama, which I worked on, and which Trump tore up in his first term without replacing it with anything."

Blinken said the earlier decision was "a major reason we ended up in this failed, optional war."

President Trump is now offering sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for concrete steps by Iran on its nuclear program.

Sound familiar?

It is very similar to the nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama, which I worked on, and which Trump tore up in his first term and...

— Antony Blinken September 28, 2026

Trump Denies Proposal to Iran

Trump denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds, calling the report "untrue" and a "hoax."

He said, "I gave them nothing!", and demanded that Axios retract the "fake news."

Iran-U.S. Talks Continue

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's stay in New York was not extended, while he said Tehran remains open to diplomacy and has held further indirect talks with the U.S. through Qatari mediators.

Araghchi said Qatar has proposed new ideas to bridge differences and "hopes" for a U.S. response by Tuesday.

Last week, Trump rejected Iran's proposed seven-day ceasefire and told aides he expects U.S. strikes on Iran to resume after the November midterm elections.

Iran has offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and resume nuclear talks in exchange for Washington lifting its economic blockade on Iranian ports.