The government of Iran denied this Tuesday, 23, that it had agreed to a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to nuclear installations hit by bombings from the United States, contradicting statements by American Vice President, JD Vance, after the round of negotiations between the two countries held in Switzerland.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said that “no visit has been scheduled” to inspect the attacked sites. On Monday, Vance said the talks had resulted in an agreement for IAEA inspectors to have access to Iranian nuclear facilities.
The UN agency returned to work in the country after the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in 2025, but has not yet received authorization to inspect the main enrichment centers hit by the US.
On another front, the president of the Iranian Parliament and head of the negotiating delegation, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, announced the return of a mission to Oman and reported that Tehran and Muscat had decided to create a joint committee to discuss issues related to the Strait of Hormuz. More details should be released soon.
According to the state agency FarsGhalibaf also stated that Iran and the US agreed to establish cooperation mechanisms for navigation in Hormuz, including a telephone hotline and a contact center to clarify incidents and avoid misunderstandings involving vessels transiting the route. According to him, ships that encounter problems can directly activate this channel so that the Iranian authorities can act to manage the situation.
The statements come amid the 60-day diplomatic process that began after the negotiations in Switzerland. Also this Tuesday, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Pakistan for meetings with authorities who act as mediators in negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
Ongoing negotiations include working groups on sanctions, nuclear issues, reconstruction and monitoring, as well as mechanisms aimed at the safety of navigation in Hormuz and the ceasefire in Lebanon, according to Iranian officials. Disagreements also persist over the use of Iranian assets frozen abroad and the scope of the commitments made by both parties.
