(new: quotes from Rubio and Trump)
GENEVA (dpa-AFX) – Washington and Tehran’s statements on the current status of possible agreements on nuclear inspections in Iran differ. US President Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform that Iran had fully agreed to the highest standard of nuclear inspections – without a time limit.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, had previously contradicted US Vice President JD Vance’s statements about joint agreements in recent negotiations in Switzerland. On Monday, at the end of high-level talks with Iranian representatives in Lucerne, JD Vance said that Iran would allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) into the country, but there was no timetable yet.
Bahreini, however, said that Iran had not yet agreed to the entry of IAEA inspectors. Whether they would travel to Iran again is the subject of discussions in a working group that has yet to meet, said Bahreini. Iranian Foreign Office spokesman Ismail Baghai also said in Tehran this morning (local time) that the IAEA is currently not planning any inspections of damaged nuclear facilities.
Trump later told reporters that Iran itself knew that Tehran’s statements to IAEA inspectors were false. Otherwise the USA would immediately break off the talks. Whether and how IAEA inspectors are allowed to enter Iran is part of the outstanding negotiations and is not conclusively regulated in the framework agreement signed by the USA and Iran last week. Further aspects are to be clarified in a final agreement.
Ambassador: Use of assets is Iran’s cause
Ambassador Bahreini also disputed Vance’s statement that the U.S. and Qatar determined how declassified Iranian assets would be used. “Iran is the only country that decides what happens to these assets.” No other country has the right to influence it, said Bahreini. US President Trump, on the other hand, wrote in his Truth Social post about a trust mechanism that is controlled by the USA.
According to Bahreini, at least two working groups will begin work “shortly”. Discussions are currently underway about who will be involved and when and where meetings should take place. The ambassador did not rule out further talks in Lucerne.
According to Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kasem Gharibabadi, the talks included working groups on the topics of ending sanctions against Iran, the nuclear program, reconstruction and monitoring and implementation of the negotiations, as the Iranian state news agency Irna reported. According to the mediating states Pakistan and Qatar, there are also two contact groups on issues relating to the Strait of Hormuz and the ceasefire in Lebanon.
At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio once again made it clear that the US rejects any restrictions on shipping by Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is an international waterway on which no state is allowed to charge fees or customs duties. Trump said on Monday that the strait, which is important for international energy trade, was “fully open” again. However, US media point out that the volume of ship traffic there is lower than before the war.
Iran closed the strait after US and Israeli attacks began in late February. The framework agreement between Iran and the US stipulates that Iran cannot charge any fees during the 60-day negotiations. Iran should negotiate what happens next with Oman – taking into account international law and involving the neighboring states.
Iran demands Israel withdraw from Lebanon
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Ambassador Bahreini said that it is clear to Iran that the framework agreement with the USA provides not only for the end of Israeli attacks, but also for the complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanese territory.
Rubio said the agreement also covers Iran-backed groups in the region. “You can’t have an end to hostilities and conflicts in the region as long as Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones from Iraq and engaging in terrorism like Hamas or Hezbollah,” Rubio said. Therefore, in his view, the issue is covered by the framework agreement.
A complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon is not explicitly mentioned in the framework agreement. However, the text talks about ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, which the sides want to ensure.
Israel is fighting in Lebanon against the Hezbollah militia, which carries out attacks on Israel from there. “Hezbollah is our ally,” Bahreini said. “If they (the Israelis) violate the framework agreement by attacking Hezbollah, Iran will definitely respond,” he threatened./oe/DP/stw
