Iran rejected U.S. claims that it agreed to let IAEA inspectors back into nuclear sites, exposing a key dispute after talks in Switzerland.
Iran on Tuesday rejected U.S. claims that it had made new commitments to allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, deepening uncertainty over a fragile diplomatic track opened after talks with Washington in Switzerland.
The dispute centers on access for the International Atomic Energy Agency to Iranian nuclear sites, including facilities bombed by the U.S. and Israel last year. Vice-President JD Vance said after the first round of talks that discussions with the IAEA could begin “as soon as today,” while President Donald Trump said Iran had “fully and completely agreed” to inspections.
Iran’s foreign ministry gave a sharply different account. Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told Iranian state media that Tehran had made “no new commitments” on nuclear inspectors and had no plans to allow access to the bombed sites outside existing Iranian procedures.
Baqaei said any engagement with U.N. inspectors would take place under rules set by Iran’s Parliament and Supreme National Security Council. The IAEA did not immediately comment.
The conflicting statements came after talks at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. In a joint statement Monday, the mediators said the U.S. and Iran had agreed to “a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days.” Vance described the talks as having laid a “very good foundation.”
Washington has also moved to temporarily ease sanctions. A 60-day U.S. Treasury waiver issued Monday authorizes the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until Aug. 21, and allows related banking, insurance and transport transactions. The relief permits Iranian oil to be sold in U.S. dollars and, under the license, imported directly into the United States.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the sanctions waiver was granted in exchange for Tehran keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and allowing IAEA inspectors back into Iran. Vance also said negotiators had discussed reopening the strait and de-confliction measures tied to a regional ceasefire.
The nuclear inspection issue has been one of the most sensitive parts of the talks. Iran suspended IAEA access to sites struck during last summer’s 12-day war, and the U.N. watchdog later withdrew its remaining inspectors from the country. Iran and six world powers reached a 2015 nuclear deal that allowed IAEA inspections, but Trump withdrew the U.S. from that agreement during his first term, calling it a bad deal.
The mediators said the two sides had formed a communication line aimed at preventing incidents and miscommunication affecting safe passage for commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. They also said a de-confliction cell involving the U.S., Iran and Lebanon would be created, with Qatar and Pakistan facilitating, to help end military operations in Lebanon.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Lebanon would be the first “real test.” Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah had abated since Saturday night, with a fragile ceasefire holding.
Negotiating groups are expected to be established on issues including nuclear matters and sanctions as the talks continue, Iranian state media reported. For now, the central question remains unresolved: whether the U.S. and Iran have the same understanding of what Tehran has agreed to on nuclear inspections.
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