Former U.S. President Donald Trump has strongly denied media reports claiming that his administration engaged in discussions with Iran over providing financial aid for its civilian nuclear energy program. In a public statement, Trump said, “We are not speaking to Iran. We’re not offering them anything.”

This comes amid widespread speculation that U.S. officials were considering allowing Iran access to up to $30 billion for developing non-military nuclear energy infrastructure as part of a potential de-escalation plan. Trump firmly dismissed these claims as false and misleading, reiterating his hardline stance against Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

During his presidency, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and reimposed sanctions on the country. His recent remarks signal continued opposition to engaging diplomatically with Iran under its current regime.

The comments have sparked renewed debate on the U.S.’s Iran policy, particularly as tensions in the Middle East remain high.