By Elsie Kamsiyochi
The fragile diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran faced an immediate test on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Tehran had agreed to unrestricted nuclear inspections “into infinity,” a claim swiftly rejected by Iranian officials who insisted no such commitment had been made.
The disagreement emerged just days after Washington and Tehran reached a preliminary peace framework aimed at ending more than three months of conflict that destabilized the Middle East, disrupted global energy markets, and heightened fears of a broader regional war.
Despite the public dispute, the United States moved forward with an important concession by granting Iran a 60-day sanctions waiver beginning Monday. The measure allows Tehran to resume oil exports and receive payments for energy sales until August 21, providing the Iranian economy with its first significant relief since the outbreak of hostilities.
Speaking after the initial round of negotiations in the Swiss resort town of Buergenstock, Trump said Iran had accepted the highest level of nuclear monitoring for the foreseeable future. He also stated that Iranian funds released under the agreement would be placed in controlled accounts and used primarily to purchase humanitarian goods from the United States, including food products, medicines, corn, wheat, and soybeans.
“Iran has fully and completely agreed to the highest level of nuclear inspections long into the future,” Trump said in a social media post, portraying the development as a major diplomatic victory for his administration.
However, Iranian officials quickly challenged the U.S. version of events.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Tehran had not begun negotiations concerning its nuclear program and had not invited inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to return. He further stated that no meeting had taken place between Iranian representatives and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi during the Swiss talks.
Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, reinforced that position, dismissing suggestions that foreign governments would determine how Iran uses any assets released under future agreements.
“Iran alone will decide how its unfrozen assets are utilized,” Bahreini told reporters, rejecting claims that Washington would control or influence those expenditures.
The conflicting accounts highlighted the uncertainty surrounding a diplomatic process that remains in its early stages. While both sides have publicly endorsed efforts to maintain the ceasefire and reduce tensions, major differences remain over sanctions relief, nuclear oversight, and regional security arrangements.
Nevertheless, negotiators reported progress in establishing a roadmap for future discussions. According to Bahreini, two specialized working groups will soon begin discussions on sanctions removal and Iran’s nuclear activities. He said several elements of the initial peace framework must first be fully implemented before formal negotiations on the nuclear issue can begin.
The broader agreement has already produced some tangible outcomes. On Monday, U.S. and regional mediators announced mechanisms designed to maintain calm between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. The arrangement also included the creation of communication channels intended to safeguard commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.
The waterway became a focal point of international concern during the conflict after Iran restricted navigation, contributing to a surge in global oil prices and renewed inflation fears across major economies.
As part of efforts to stabilize maritime traffic, Iran and Oman announced plans to create a joint working group tasked with discussing navigation management, shipping services, and possible transit costs in the strategic strait. Both countries emphasized that any arrangement would respect their sovereignty and national interests.
Economic markets responded positively to the easing tensions. Oil prices continued to decline this week, extending losses after falling roughly 3% on Monday. Investors interpreted the sanctions waiver and the reopening of shipping lanes as signs that energy supplies may normalize in the coming months.
Meanwhile, developments in Lebanon remain a sensitive issue. Although a ceasefire has largely held since Sunday, reports emerged Tuesday that Israeli gunfire killed two people in southern Lebanon. Lebanese authorities and Hezbollah accused Israel of violating the truce, while Israeli officials maintained that military forces would continue operating against perceived threats and preserve a security zone along the border.
Israel and Lebanon were scheduled to begin a new round of talks in Washington aimed at addressing long-term security concerns and reducing the risk of renewed clashes.
For Trump, the diplomatic effort carries significant political implications at home. The conflict with Iran, which began following joint U.S.-Israeli military operations, has generated criticism from both political opponents and members of his own Republican Party. Rising fuel costs earlier in the conflict fueled voter concerns, while some lawmakers continue to argue that any final agreement must permanently dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Iran, meanwhile, maintains that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes. The country sharply reduced cooperation with the IAEA after military strikes targeted its facilities last year and suspended inspections entirely following the outbreak of war.
As negotiations move forward, the stark differences between Washington’s and Tehran’s public statements underscore the challenges facing diplomats.
While the sanctions waiver and ceasefire measures represent meaningful progress, the future of Iran’s nuclear program—and the extent of international oversight it may accept—remains one of the most contentious issues standing between the two sides and a lasting peace agreement.
Source Reuters
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