Credited from: INDIATIMES
US Vice President J.D. Vance announced that Iran has agreed to permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return to the country, marking a significant step towards verifying Iran's nuclear program. Vance described this commitment as a "major milestone" for the American people, aiming to ensure the permanent end of Iran's nuclear weapons development. These discussions occurred during a two-month negotiation period in Switzerland, facilitated by Pakistan and Qatar, with the IAEA expected to initiate talks on their return imminently, according to SCMP and IndiaTimes.
While US officials expressed optimism regarding these developments, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei contradicted these claims, stating that discussions about nuclear inspections had not taken place. He emphasized that Iran had not committed to allowing IAEA inspectors back, asserting that negotiations regarding the nuclear program were yet to commence. This contrasting narrative from Iran indicates a complex and ongoing situation at the negotiation table, as reported by IndiaTimes and Channel News Asia.
Despite Iran's denial of these commitments, US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to allow nuclear inspections "long into the future" to ensure transparency about its nuclear activities. He suggested that any unfrozen Iranian assets resulting from the negotiations would be used for humanitarian purposes, including purchasing food and medical supplies from the US. However, Iran has firmly stated that it retains sole discretion over its assets and their intended use, responding to these claims with a clear denial of any such agreement, according to Channel News Asia.
The US and Iran are in the early stages of negotiating a framework to bring an end to hostilities, particularly concerning conflicts in Lebanon involving Hezbollah, and discussions included establishing channels for safer commercial shipping through the vital Strait of Hormuz. As part of the interim agreement, the US is set to lift sanctions on Iran for a period of 60 days, allowing it to move forward with economic activities while negotiations continue, as noted by SCMP and IndiaTimes.