In 2nd apparent pushback against Trump’s VP, envoy says Iran will be ‘only country’ to determine how to use its unfrozen assets, warns Lebanon clash poses risk to deal.
Iran has neither held a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency chief Rafael Grossi in Switzerland nor plans for the UN nuclear watchdog to inspect Iran’s damaged nuclear facilities, a foreign ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Esmaeil Baghaei said there was no protocol for such inspections, adding that Iran will continue its current obligations as a member of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA. The comments contradicted a statement by US Vice President JD Vance, who said Monday that “the Iranians have agreed to invite IAEA inspectors back into their country.”
Speaking to reporters at the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland, Vance called Iran’s ostensible invitation to UN nuclear inspectors “a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran.” Iran had already pushed back against Vance’s comments on Monday, with Baghaei telling the official IRNA news agency that Tehran had not negotiated on its nuclear program and had not accepted any new commitments during Sunday’s talks with the US.
The IAEA has accused Iran of obstructing inspections and failing to give a full account of its highly enriched uranium stockpile after the material was apparently buried in US strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites during last June’s 12-day Israel-Iran war. Tehran, which routinely calls for the destruction of Israel, maintains that its nuclear program is for purely civilian purposes. However, before the June war, Iran had been enriching uranium to levels far beyond what’s necessary for any peaceful application, and consistently obstructed international inspectors from checking its facilities. Israel has also said Iran was taking steps toward weaponization. (Ed note: Kind of makes one want to ask, "who's lying?) (Read More)
