Iran has stated it made no new commitments regarding nuclear inspections, directly contradicting claims by U.S. Vice President JD Vance that inspectors would be invited back into the country. The conflicting statements emerged following the first round of talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at reaching a final deal to end a recent conflict.

Negotiations held in Switzerland concluded with Vance suggesting that discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could commence as early as the current day. However, Iran's foreign ministry communicated to state media that Tehran had not entered into any new agreements concerning nuclear inspections. This disagreement surfaces as the U.S. has temporarily waived sanctions, permitting Iran to sell oil in U.S. dollars for the first time in decades.

Mediators Qatar and Pakistan released a joint statement Monday indicating that the U.S. and Iran had agreed on a roadmap during the talks in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, with the objective of reaching a comprehensive deal within 60 days. Vance characterized the discussions as having established a "very good foundation" and noted that the teams had addressed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and de-confliction measures for a regional ceasefire.

The 60-day sanctions waiver, issued by the U.S. Treasury, dismantles key elements of Washington's long-standing embargo that has significantly impacted Iran's economy. This emergency license authorizes the production, sale, and delivery of Iranian crude oil and petrochemicals through August 21, and notably permits direct import of Iranian oil into the U.S. It also facilitates banking transactions, insurance, and transportation, bypassing the complex channels Iran previously utilized for oil sales.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that in exchange for this 60-day waiver, Tehran had committed to maintaining the open passage of the vital Strait of Hormuz and allowing IAEA nuclear inspectors entry. Vance, speaking to reporters in Switzerland on Monday, indicated an expectation for the inspection process to begin "at a minimum this week," with initial conversations potentially occurring as soon as that day.

However, in an interview with Iran's state news agency Irna, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai asserted that Tehran had made no new commitments regarding nuclear inspectors. He emphasized that any engagement with UN inspectors would proceed under existing protocols established by Iran's Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council. The IAEA had not issued an immediate comment on the matter.

Iran had previously suspended IAEA access to sites that were targeted by Israel and the U.S. during a 12-day conflict last summer. The following month, the UN's nuclear watchdog confirmed the withdrawal of its remaining inspectors from the country. The situation follows a history of nuclear agreements, including the 2015 deal between Iran and six world powers, which allowed IAEA inspections but from which the U.S. withdrew in 2018 under President Donald Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump also posted on social media, stating that Iran would agree to "Major Weapons Inspections." This declaration, alongside Vance's comments, contrasts sharply with the Iranian foreign ministry's official stance, leaving the status of nuclear inspections and future diplomatic engagements uncertain.