Did Iran agree to IAEA inspections for 'nuclear honesty'? Trump, Vance say so

The first day of US-Iran talks in Switzerland concluded with starkly different interpretations of what had been agreed upon, particularly concerning international inspections of Iran's nuclear program. The negotiations took place at the Burgenstock resort.

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The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearising or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran.

US Vice President JD Vance announced that Iran had agreed to permit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) back into the country. "The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country," Vance told reporters, as cited by AFP. He characterized this as a "major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearising or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran," expressing optimism about the negotiations.

However, Iran publicly disputed these claims. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei told the official IRNA news agency that Iran had not yet discussed nuclear issues during the talks and had made no new commitments. According to IRNA, Baghaei stated that negotiations on the nuclear issue had not yet commenced, directly contradicting the US account. He added that Iran's interactions with the IAEA would continue under existing procedures, subject to parliamentary approval and decisions by the Supreme National Security Council.

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Iran had not yet discussed nuclear issues during the talks and had made no new commitments on the matter.

This dispute unfolds against a backdrop of long-standing tensions over Iran's nuclear activities. Iran had previously limited IAEA inspections following military actions by the US and Israel, and suspended them entirely after the outbreak of war earlier this year. Tehran consistently maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful. Last year, Iran's parliament passed legislation restricting cooperation with the IAEA and suspending routine inspections after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. However, ties were not completely severed, with the law allowing inspectors access to certain "active nuclear sites" on a case-by-case basis.

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If Iran doesn't live up to their agreement, or if they're not behaving, I will do what I have to do.