US President Donald Trump has said that he may support the easing of sanctions on Iran to help the country rebuild following its war with Israel over nuclear weapons development.

The comments were made on June 25 at a news conference at the NATO Summit following questions regarding whether Trump would ease oil sanctions on the country. “They’re going to need money to put that country back into shape. We want to see that happen,” he noted.

Trump also said that China could continue buying Iranian oil after the war had ended the day before, but the White House has since clarified that this did not indicate a relaxation of US foreign policy concerning Iran.

The comments come following waves of sanctions imposed on both Iran and China following their continued trade, with China’s independent ‘teapot’ refineries and port terminal operators taking hits for their purchase of Iranian oil. Around June 26, Trump noted that nuclear talks with Iran could continue as early as this week, however, Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi said that negotiations would only resume if Iran could receive assurance from the US against additional attacks, according to Al Jazeera.

“In order for us to decide to reengage, we would have to first ensure that America will not revert back to targeting us in a military attack during the negotiations,” he said, adding:

“I think with all these considerations, we still need more time, although the doors of diplomacy will never slam shut”.

If such talks were to take place they could yield results – with Iran likely to ask for a reprieve from sanctions in exchange for binning its nuclear ambitions, similar to a deal agreed with previous US President Barack Obama in 2016. Dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement required Iran to significantly limit its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions – keeping its nuclear plans strictly within civilian limits.

Although signalling interest in talks Trump has kept onlookers on their toes, also telling reporters at the NATO summit in The Hague that he wasn’t particularly interested in negotiating – referencing the fact that US strikes had allegedly destroyed the country’s nuclear programme in its entirety.

“We may sign an agreement, I don’t know. To me, I don’t think it’s that necessary,” he said, adding: “The way I look at it, they fought, the war is done”.

Keeping its cards close to its chest, Iran has said that it does not plan to give up its nuclear goals – with the country’s parliament choosing to fast-track a proposal that would prevent it from cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).