Iranian President claims US offered to remove sanctions in exchange for talks
Updated : 15:59
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Friday claimed that Washington had offered to remove all sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation in exchange for talks.
Rouhani made the assertion on his website, stating that he had met with US officials at the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier in the week and adding that Iran was ready for negotiations if the "toxic atmosphere of maximum pressure" was alleviated.
"It was up for debate what sanctions will be lifted and they (the United States) had said clearly that we will lift all sanctions," said Rouhani.
US President Donald Trump denied his Iranian counterpart's claim in typical fashion.
"Iran wanted me to lift the sanctions imposed on them in order to meet. I said, of course, NO!," he tweeted.
The news sent oil prices lower, with Brent crude futures down 1.60% at $61.75 at 1509 BST, recovering slightly after Trump's rebuttal.
The two nations have clashed this month over a drone and cruise missile attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the US accused Iran of being responsible for.
The US slapped sanctions on Iran's oil exports and attempted to stop other countries from buying its oil back in May 2018 when Washington decided to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which attempted to limit Tehran's ability to produce weapons grade uranium.