Trump Denounces Israeli Reporter's Iran Sanctions Report as 'Hoax'

Former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a scathing public attack on Israeli journalist Barak Ravid and the news outlet Axios, vehemently denying a report alleging he offered to ease sanctions on Iran in exchange for nuclear concessions. The Axios report, citing sources, claimed Trump had agreed to facilitate the release of frozen funds to Iran as part of potential nuclear deal negotiations.

Trump took to social media to label the report a "hoax" and accused Axios of fabricating the story to fuel anti-Trump sentiment. He demanded that the outlet "immediately retract" its reporting, stating, "I offered them nothing!" He further criticized the outlet, asserting that "the article, like most of their articles, is a hoax designed to feed their Trump Derangement Syndrome."

This public confrontation marks a significant escalation, turning a dispute over negotiation terms with Tehran into a direct conflict between the former president and a news organization with whom he has previously engaged in direct conversations. Just days prior, Ravid had published an interview with Trump in Axios discussing the possibility of renewed talks with Iran.

While Trump's denial does not definitively settle what was conveyed through diplomatic channels, his public statement is a clear message to Ravid and Axios. The journalist, who has frequently quoted Trump directly in past reports, now faces a demand from the former president to retract his published work.