Iran has agreed to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors into the country, Vice President JD Vance said Monday after the initial round of U.S.–Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland. The announcement marks a potential breakthrough in efforts to monitor Tehran's nuclear program.
The development fulfills a key U.S. objective for the first round of negotiations: securing an Iranian invitation for UN inspectors to visit nuclear sites bombed by the U.S. and Israel. The last such inspection occurred before the war in June 2025, making this a significant shift.
Vance stated that coordination between Iran, the U.S., and the IAEA for the visit will occur "this week, maybe as soon as today," though Iran has not yet confirmed the timeline. No specifics were provided regarding the extent of access inspectors would receive.
Technical teams will remain in Switzerland to continue negotiations after high-level officials depart. The agreement suggests both sides are seeking a diplomatic path forward despite tensions.
Iran has not publicly confirmed the deal, leaving questions about implementation. Critics caution that past agreements have faltered over inspection scope and compliance verification.