U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to ease sanctions or unfreeze assets if Iran takes specific steps regarding its nuclear program, the U.S. online media outlet Axios reported on the 28th (local time).

Axios cited multiple U.S. officials in reporting this.

While Iran wants to focus negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. military's maritime blockade, the Trump administration is demanding that Iran make concessions concerning its nuclear program.

Having used the prevention of a nuclear-armed Iran as a justification for initiating hostilities, President Trump needs to secure concessions regarding Iran's nuclear development ahead of the midterms in early November so he can naturally present them as an achievement.

President Trump posted on social media platform Truth Social, denying the report: "Not true. I didn't offer anything."

President Trump added, "The Axios story is a lie. This fake story should be retracted immediately."

Assuming the Axios report is correct, President Trump appears to feel burdened by the public exposure of offering reciprocal measures such as sanctions relief and the unfreezing of assets to Iran.

When President Trump signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war with Iran last June, agreeing to ease sanctions and unfreeze assets, he faced severe domestic backlash criticizing it as an "MOU tantamount to surrender."

Mediating countries such as Qatar and Pakistan are holding successive meetings with the United States and Iran in an attempt to reach an agreement.

They are scheduled to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York on this day and plan to contact officials from the Trump administration as well.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that intermediaries are also urging Iran to make nuclear-related concessions amid concerns over the resurgence of a full-scale war.

They are worried about the possibility of escalating military tensions between the two sides after President Trump publicly rejected Iran's "seven-day plan" aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

It remains uncertain whether Iran will respond to President Trump's attempt at an agreement centered on sanctions relief and the unfreezing of frozen assets.

The WSJ reported that Iran has sent almost no signals to intermediaries indicating it is ready to discuss matters related to its nuclear program.

The Trump administration is employing a strategy of pressuring Iran through an economic asphyxiation campaign.

With the midterm elections approaching, a massive military escalation is a heavy burden, prompting the administration to pressure various nations to isolate Iran and extract concessions.

For now, President Trump has kept the door to dialogue open even after rejecting the "7-day plan."

Mindful of voter sentiment, President Trump has repeatedly expressed optimism that the war with Iran will end around early November, when the midterms are scheduled, and that oil prices will plunge.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)