Iran has flatly denied Vice-President JD Vance’s claim that it will allow nuclear inspectors back into the country, throwing the first round of US-Iran talks in Switzerland into confusion.
After negotiations at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, Vance said on Monday that discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could begin “as soon as today”. But within hours, Iran’s foreign ministry told state media that Tehran had made “no new commitments” on nuclear inspections.
“Iran denies allowing nuclear inspectors back, contradicting Vance's claim, as US temporarily waives oil sanctions.”
The contradiction deepened on Tuesday. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said the country had no plans to permit inspectors to access nuclear sites bombed by the US and Israel last year. President Donald Trump, however, posted on social media that despite Iran’s “protestations and false statements to the contrary”, it had “fully and completely agreed” to inspections. “If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the US has temporarily waived sanctions, allowing Iran to sell oil in US dollars for the first time in decades. The 60-day waiver, issued by the US Treasury on Monday, dismantles central pillars of the long-running embargo, authorising the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until 21 August. Iranian oil can even be imported directly into the US. The relief unlocks banking transactions, insurance and transportation, bypassing the complex networks Iran previously used to sell crude.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the waiver was granted in exchange for Tehran’s commitment to keep the vital Strait of Hormuz open and to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country. Vance described the talks as having laid a “very good foundation”, adding that the teams had discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and “de-confliction for the regional ceasefire”.
In a joint statement on Monday, mediators Qatar and Pakistan said the US and Iran had agreed to “a roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days”.
When asked by reporters in Switzerland when nuclear inspectors would return to Iran, Vance said he expected the process to start “at a minimum this week”, but conversations with inspectors “could happen as soon as today”. Iran’s denials now raise questions over whether the roadmap can survive its first week.