US Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Iran has agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) back into the country, hailing the move as a major breakthrough in the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
“We have made a lot of great progress on nuclear talks,” Vance said, calling the development “a very, very good day.”
According to Vance, the return of IAEA inspectors is the most significant outcome of the first round of talks held in Switzerland.
“That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran,” he said.
Vance added that inspections could resume as early as this week.
The announcement appeared to go beyond the public comments made by Iranian officials after Sunday’s negotiations.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the nuclear issue had only been discussed briefly.
“There was a very brief discussion” on Iran’s nuclear programme, Baghaei told reporters, adding that “there was no discussion of details, and it cannot be said that negotiations on the nuclear issue have begun.”
Vance said the talks had already produced progress in four key areas.
The first was Iran’s agreement to allow IAEA inspectors back into the country. The second was the creation of a mechanism aimed at reopening and safeguarding navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The third was the establishment of a de-confliction mechanism designed to support the ceasefire process in Lebanon, where continued clashes between Israel and Hezbollah have threatened wider diplomatic efforts.
The fourth was the launch of a framework for future negotiations between Washington and Tehan.
The vice president said these steps provide a foundation for broader discussions expected in the coming weeks as both sides seek a longer-term agreement covering Iran’s nuclear activities, regional security issues and maritime navigation.
