Iran has announced that it will not allow IAEA inspectors access to nuclear facilities bombed during the last war, in contrast to U.S. statements that Tehran has agreed to resume international inspections, threatening to add another obstacle to efforts to cement post-war understandings in the Middle East.
Iran's stance came days after the first round of talks between Washington and Tehran in Switzerland, which took place following the signing of a memorandum of understanding to end the war.
US Vice President Jay de Vance said after the talks that "the Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors to return," referring to the possibility of resuming inspections of Iran's nuclear program.
But Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei categorically denied this, stressing that Tehran does not intend to allow the IAEA to inspect nuclear sites that were bombed during the last war.
"We have not held a meeting with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and we do not plan to allow the IAEA to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities that have been damaged by the US and Zionist military aggression," Baghaei said.
Trump claims Tehran's approval to inspect its nuclear facilities
U.S. President Donald Trump stressed that Iran has agreed to wide-ranging monitoring arrangements, writing on Truth Social that Tehran has "fully and fully agreed to nuclear inspections at the highest level (indefinitely!!This will ensure nuclear integrity."
Iran has for years denied Western accusations that it is seeking a nuclear weapon, insisting that its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. However, it has suspended visits by IAEA inspectors to its nuclear facilities since it was attacked by Israel and the United States during the June 2025 war.
Since last Sunday, the Swiss resort of Burgenstock has witnessed lengthy meetings between Iranian and American delegations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, where the Iranian delegation was headed by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, while the American delegation was led by Vice President Jay de Vance.
The two delegations left Switzerland on Monday, while U.S. officials said the talks had laid a "good foundation" for ending the war in the Middle East.
In a parallel move to the negotiations, the US Treasury Department announced the suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil for two months, within a 60-day negotiation period with the aim of reaching a final agreement on the nuclear file and economic sanctions.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the talks in Switzerland had led to an agreement on the "framework for future negotiations", noting the formation of "four working groups related to the end of sanctions, nuclear affairs, reconstruction and economic development, and monitoring and implementation".
Parallel diplomatic moves
In the context of regional moves related to the negotiations, Iranian President Masoud Bezshakian arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday accompanied by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is also preparing to begin a Gulf tour that includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait that will last until Thursday, according to the U.S. State Department.
Araqchi participated in an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman as part of a delegation headed by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, where the Iranian delegation met with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, and discussed in particular the file of the management of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the official Iranian news agency IRNA.
Tehran and Muscat said in a joint statement that they had agreed to continue consultations on the future management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
"The two sides agreed to continue dialogue on this issue through a joint working group between the foreign ministries of the two countries, with the aim of reaching an agreement on the future management of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the services to be provided in this regard and the associated costs, in accordance with international standards," the statement said.
Gradual return to navigation
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz since the war began, causing widespread disruption in global energy markets.
However, traffic has gradually resumed following the signing of the memorandum of understanding last week, with data from Kepler, a shipping tracking platform, showing that at least 36 cargo ships crossed the strait on Monday, the highest number since the war began.
Despite this increase, current traffic still accounts for about a third of peacetime averages, which typically reach about 120 ships a day through the sea lane, one of the world's most important energy trade arteries.
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