Iran's foreign ministry has categorically denied that Tehran made any new commitments on nuclear inspections, directly contradicting a claim by US vice-president JD Vance that inspectors could return “as soon as today”. The denial came hours after the US Treasury issued a 60-day sanctions waiver that, for the first time in decades, allows Iran to sell oil in US dollars – a dramatic shift in Washington’s long-running embargo.
Vance, who led the American delegation at peace talks in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock, told reporters on Monday that he expected the process of allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back to begin “at a minimum this week”. But in an interview with Iranian state news agency Irna, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said Tehran had made “no new commitments”, insisting any engagement with inspectors would take place only “under existing procedures set by Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council”.
“Iran denies it made new commitments on nuclear inspections after US eases oil sanctions and talks yield 60-day roadmap.”
The talks themselves came close to collapse before they began. Donald Trump, in expletive-laden phone calls and social media posts, threatened to “blow the s--- out of” Iran and “take over” the country if it closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian negotiators walked out in protest and lodged a formal complaint with mediators Pakistan and Qatar. Chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who is also speaker of parliament, warned that “our armed forces are ready to respond”.
Despite the tense start, the two sides eventually agreed on a “roadmap towards reaching a final deal within 60 days”, according to a joint statement from Pakistan and Qatar. Vance described the talks as having laid a “very good foundation”. The US vice-president said the teams had discussed reopening the Strait of Hormuz and “de-confliction for the regional ceasefire”.
The 60-day sanctions waiver, issued by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, authorises the production, sale and delivery of Iranian crude and petrochemicals until 21 August. It unlocks banking transactions, insurance and transportation, and even allows Iranian oil to be imported directly into the US. Bessent said that in exchange, Tehran had committed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and allowing IAEA inspectors back – a claim Iran now contests.
Oil prices edged down on Monday, with Brent crude falling 20 cents to $77.70 a barrel, as investors weighed the prospects of restored crude flows through the strategic waterway. Qalibaf, speaking to state media on his flight back from Switzerland, insisted the strait would be managed by Iran in line with international law. “Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to regional and global economy,” he said.
Technical talks are due to continue for the remainder of the week at the Bürgenstock resort, but the fundamental dispute over nuclear inspections remains unresolved – raising questions about whether the fragile truce can hold.