Negotiations between the US and Iran, aimed at reaching a final peace agreement, are on the verge of collapse. The cause is a sharp conflict over the access of IAEA international inspectors to damaged nuclear facilities in Iran. US President Donald Trump has accused Tehran of dragging out the process and refusing to meet key conditions.
"If they don't agree — there will be no negotiations"
In his statement on the social network Truth Social, Donald Trump emphasized that Iran has already agreed to inspections for an indefinite period. He called the Iranian side's claims about the lack of agreements false and warned: "If they do not agree to this, there will be no further negotiations!"
US Vice President JD Vance previously called Iran's readiness for inspections an important step towards denuclearization. According to him, this is the first stage on the path to the complete disarmament of the country's nuclear program.
Iran refutes: "No procedure, no meetings"
Official Tehran categorically denies the existence of any agreements on inspections. The Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Esmaeil Baqaei, stated that there are no plans to inspect damaged facilities, and officials have not even met with the head of the IAEA.
"There is simply no established procedure for this issue," Baqaei emphasized. He added that Iran will only comply with standard and transparent control mechanisms provided for by international agreements.
The Iranian Ambassador to the UN, Ali Bahreini, confirmed that since June 2025, the country has banned inspectors from visiting attack sites. The discussion of nuclear activity, he said, will take place at the next stage of negotiations.
The American side: manipulation and playing the domestic politics game
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio believes that Iran is using information to manipulate public opinion. In his opinion, Tehran's statements are aimed at a domestic audience and are part of a political game within the country.
Trump also hinted that if necessary, he is ready to resume hostilities against Iran to prevent the creation of nuclear weapons. He called the issue of the nuclear program more important than the threat of a global economic crisis.
Context: first round of negotiations in Switzerland
The misunderstanding regarding IAEA inspections arose against the backdrop of the first round of negotiations between the US and Iran, which took place in Switzerland. The parties discussed the terms of a final peace agreement, however, disagreements over the issue of inspections became a stumbling block.
The situation remains tense. Whether Iran can make concessions on the issue of inspector access depends on the future of the entire negotiation process — and possibly regional security.