US and Iran Offer Divergent Accounts of Nuclear Talks in Switzerland
The first full day of US-Iran talks in Switzerland ended with sharply different accounts of what was agreed. US Vice President JD Vance claimed Iran had committed to admitting UN nuclear inspectors, but Iran's foreign ministry said real negotiations on the nuclear issue have not yet started.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump backed Vance's claim, posting on Truth Social that Iran would agree to 'major weapons inspections' to ensure what he called 'nuclear honesty.' Trump's post offered no new detail on how or when such inspections would take place.
Speaking to reporters before leaving Switzerland, Vance said Iran had agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) back into the country 'at the minimum of this week.' He called it a 'very, very good day' and described nuclear inspector access as 'probably what we’re most excited about as Americans.'
'Letting in the inspectors is a big deal,' Vance said. 'But again, we’re going to see what they actually let the inspectors do once they’re in the country.' He added that the US would judge Iran by its actions, not its words.
Vance said four things had been accomplished: agreeing to nuclear inspector access, building a mechanism to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, creating a Lebanon de-confliction cell, and setting up a process for future talks. He described the outcome as laying 'a very good foundation for a successful, final deal.'
Iran's foreign ministry pushed back almost immediately, denying any new commitments on nuclear monitoring. Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, separately insisted the Strait of Hormuz would remain under Iranian management and subject to international law, directly countering US claims of progress on the waterway.
The IAEA has had no access to Iran’s nuclear facilities since the conflict began and has been unable to verify whether Iran has resumed enrichment or whether its uranium stockpile has moved. Any enrichment limits agreed at talks would remain unverifiable until inspectors physically re-enter Iranian facilities, making the inspector access question the most consequential near-term test of the deal's reality.
Despite conflicting accounts on inspectors, both sides confirmed several other outcomes. Iran and the US agreed to set up a telephone hotline to prevent misunderstandings over Strait of Hormuz shipping. A Lebanon de-confliction cell was established, facilitated by Qatar and Pakistan, to enforce the ceasefire there. The US Treasury also temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil, following through on a key commitment made in the memorandum.
Technical talks are expected to continue in the coming weeks.
