Iran has denied a claim by Vice-President JD Vance that it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, after the first round of negotiations between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland.
Speaking on Monday in Switzerland, Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could be happening “as soon as today.” He described the talks as having laid a “very good foundation” and said the two teams had discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and “de-confliction for the regional ceasefire.”
But in an interview with Iranian state news agency Irna, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said Tehran had made “no new commitments” on nuclear inspectors. Baqai maintained that any engagement with UN inspectors would take place “under existing procedures set by Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council.”
The contradictory statements came as the U.S. Treasury on Monday issued a 60-day sanctions waiver that authorizes the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until August 21. The waiver allows Iran to sell oil in U.S. dollars for the first time in decades, dismantling central pillars of the long-running embargo. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that in exchange for the waiver, Tehran had committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and allowing IAEA nuclear inspectors back into the country.
President Donald Trump also posted on social media that Iran “will agree to have Major Weapons Inspections.” Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump issued a fresh warning: “If Iran doesn’t live up to their agreement, or if they’re not behaving, I will do what I have to do.”
In a joint statement released Monday, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said the U.S. and Iran had agreed to “a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days.” The mediators said a “communication line” had been formed “to avoid incidents and miscommunication with the aim of safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.” Both sides also agreed to create a “de-confliction cell” between the U.S., Iran and Lebanon, facilitated by the mediating countries, to end military operations in Lebanon.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the first “real test” would be Lebanon, where fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has abated since Saturday night and a fragile ceasefire was holding.
Vance said Monday that the Iranians had threatened to walk out of the talks on Sunday after Trump warned on Truth Social that the U.S. could “hit Iran very hard again.” Vance said he told Iranian negotiators that Trump was merely responding to Iranian “trash talk.”
Iran suspended IAEA access to sites bombed by Israel and the U.S. during the 12-day war last summer. The following month, the UN’s nuclear watchdog said it had pulled out its remaining inspectors from the country.
Negotiating groups covering nuclear issues and sanctions are to be established as talks continue, Iranian state media reported Tuesday.