The US and Iran have shared conflicting remarks on nuclear inspections after the first round of talks between the two countries in Switzerland. US Vice-President JD Vance claimed on Monday that discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could be happening 'as soon as today', but Iran's foreign ministry has since denied making any new commitments on the issue.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with Iranian state news agency Irna that Tehran had made 'no new commitments' on nuclear inspectors. He maintained that any engagement with UN inspectors would take place 'under existing procedures set by Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council'.
The US and Iran have been engaged in talks to reach a final deal to end the war, and the two countries have agreed to a 'roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days'. The US has temporarily waived sanctions, allowing Iran to sell oil in US dollars for the first time in decades.
However, the US and Iran have shared conflicting remarks on the nuclear issue. US President Donald Trump said that despite Iran's 'protestations and false statements to the contrary', it had 'fully and completely agreed' to inspections. But Baqaei said that Iran had no plans to allow inspectors to access nuclear sites bombed by the US and Israel last year.
The IAEA suspended access to these sites last summer, and the UN's nuclear watchdog has since withdrawn its remaining inspectors from the country. The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, including the US, China, and the UK, allowed for IAEA inspections of nuclear sites in Iran. The US withdrew from this agreement in 2018, arguing it was a 'bad deal'.