At the end of the first day of U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland, Washington and Tehran offered different versions of the deal, particularly on the issue of international inspections of Iran’s nuclear program.U.S. Vice President Vance said after the first round of negotiations in the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock that Iran had agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to return to the country.“The Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back to their country,” Vance told reporters, according to AFP.“This is an important milestone for the American people and the first step toward permanent denuclearization or a permanent end to Iran’s nuclear weapons program,” he said.Vance was also optimistic about the negotiations, saying: “We have laid a good foundation for a successful and ultimately successful agreement.”The talks marked the start of a two-month negotiating period outlined in a preliminary deal reached last week. Pakistani and Qatari mediators said negotiators had agreed on a “roadmap to a final agreement within 60 days” and technical discussions would continue this week.U.S. President Donald Trump echoed Vance’s comments, writing in Truth Social that Iran would agree to inspections aimed at ensuring “nuclear honesty.”Trump later told reporters: “If Iran doesn’t abide by the deal, or doesn’t take action, I’m going to do what I have to do.”However, Iran has publicly disputed claims that any such commitment has been made.Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei told Iran’s official news agency IRNA that Iran had not discussed the nuclear issue during the talks and had not made new commitments on the matter.According to Iran’s Islamic News Agency, Baghaei said that negotiations on the nuclear issue have not yet begun, which is directly contradictory to the United States’ description of the discussions.He also added that Iran’s interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency will continue in accordance with current procedures, subject to the approval of the Iranian Parliament and the decision of the Supreme National Security Council.The dispute comes against the backdrop of long-standing tensions over Iran’s nuclear programme. Iran has limited International Atomic Energy Agency inspections since previous U.S. and Israeli military operations and suspended them altogether after the war broke out earlier this year. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.Iran’s parliament passed legislation last year limiting cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and suspending routine inspections following U.S. attacks on Iran’s Isfahan, Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. However, ties with the U.N. nuclear watchdog have not been completely severed. The law still allows inspectors to enter certain “active nuclear facilities,” including Bushehr, on “case-by-case basis.”Under the terms of a preliminary framework released by U.S. officials last week, Iran is expected to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium, possibly through “on-site dilution under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”The United Nations monitoring agency estimates that Iran has about 440 kilograms of enriched uranium, with an enrichment level of 60%, close to weapons-grade levels.Vance said discussions about the return of inspectors could begin almost immediately.“I expect that to happen at least this week, but we think even some dialogue with the inspectors … and the IAEA could happen as early as today,” he said.IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi confirmed on X that he was in Bürgenstock and met with Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis.
