US, Iran issue conflicting reports on deal as Trump says no sanction relief

Despite suggestions that a deal between the United States and Iran may be close, officials from both countries have continued to issue conflicting statements, signalling an ongoing diplomatic impasse. Speaking at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, US President Donald Trump said Iran would not receive any sanction relief as a result of the negotiations, despite Iran’s demands otherwise. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list “We’re not talking about any easing of sanctions or giving money,” Trump said. Earlier in the day, in an interview to PBS News, the US president also reiterated his claim that Iran would surrender its reserves of enriched uranium. “They’re going to give up their highly enriched uranium, not for sanctions relief. No, no, not at all,” Trump told PBS News. Those comments followed similar remarks on Monday, when Trump said the enriched uranium “will either be immediately turned over to the United States to be brought home and destroyed or, preferably, in conjunction and coordination with the Islamic Republic of Iran, destroyed in place”. But Tehran has said it would not let go of the estimated 440kg (970 lbs) of nuclear material it possesses. More than one month ago, Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to allow the US to retrieve the uranium at a “leisurely pace”, but Tehran was quick to deny the statement. …