Iran is set to invite the UN watchdog agency (IAEA) to inspect its nuclear facilities as it begins work to locate and reveal the locations of its enriched material. This revelation was made by his envoy, Steve Witkoff, during a confidential briefing of US senators on Thursday.
The information was provided by two sources with knowledge of the discussion who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. According to them, Witkoff explained to congressional leadership and members of the national security committees that the US-Iran cooperation memorandum does not include “secret” side deals. However, a cover letter was drawn up between Tehran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), formalizing the invitation.
This letter, addressed to IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, will allow him to bring US inspectors to Tehran.
Free sailing and a change of scenery in Washington
At the same time, the USA, with oil tankers now moving freely through the Straits of Hormuz, after months of complete paralysis of this critical passage. This development comes as the preliminary agreement to end the war comes into force.
At the same time, the vice president of the USA, Jay D. Vance, announced that he might, where the signing ceremony of the agreement would take place. This visit was considered pivotal for the start of the next – and possibly more critical – round of negotiations between the two sides.
A few hours later, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei endorsed direct negotiations with the US in a statement carried by state media:
“It is obvious that the individual negotiations that will be held in the future do not mean accepting the enemy’s point of view,” he clarified.
This was Khamenei’s first reaction, marking a clear shift in Iran’s approach. The country’s hardliners – notably Khamenei’s father and former supreme leader – have long opposed direct talks, especially after the US pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal. The current supreme leader has not been seen in public since he was wounded in a strike early in the war.
An uncertain timeline that causes shivers
The postponement of visits was not limited to the American side. And Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif postponed his trip to Switzerland as Islamabad was to host the ceremony, with two senior officials explaining that the ceremony had lost its urgency since the pact had already been signed.
That fluid timetable, however, threatens to make it harder for the Trump administration to “sell” the deal domestically in the US, where many – including Republican lawmakers – criticize it as too favorable to Tehran.
“Our plan is to go to Switzerland. I don’t know exactly when,” Vance told reporters at the White House. “I suspect this weekend, but I’m not sure.” The statement cast fresh doubt on a deal that Donald Trump said he signed to avoid an “economic disaster” in the US.
Vance’s announcement came a day after Trump signed the pact during a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles. The agreement calls for an immediate ceasefire and gives the two sides 60 days to reach broader agreements. Trump emphasized that this would relieve the US economy from the oil price rally and inflation, repeatedly noting that he does not want to be compared to Herbert Hoover (the Great Depression president of the 1930s).
Vance defends deal – The ‘message’ to Israel
Vice President Vance, who was initially skeptical of US involvement in a war with Iran, has become the administration’s central figure in managing the crisis. Responding to criticism of excessive concessions, he insisted the deal would force Iran to “change its behavior”, while denying accusations of a chaotic communications strategy.
At the same time, he sent an unusually harsh warning to Israel, which has been pushing for a tougher stance on Iran and launched attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon until the last minute before the deal, complicating peace efforts.
“Trump is the only head of state in the entire world who likes the nation of Israel at this point in time,” Vance said bluntly. “And he happens to be the head of state of the planet’s superpower.”
Vance also reported that more than 12.5 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday night, which is expected to further deescalate fuel prices. US Central Command (CENTCOM) clarified that US warships will remain in the area to ensure full compliance with the agreement.
Return of tankers to sea lanes
At least two oil tankers left Iran and passed the US military blockade unhindered, carrying a total of 3.8 million barrels of Iranian crude oil.
Iranian state media reported that shipping had “normalized” in the country’s southern ports, although it clarified that the strait remains under the supervision of the Iranian military. According to shipping data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence, major shipowners (such as the Grimaldi, Cosco, Knutsen and NYK groups) have already started moving their ships, which have been stranded there since February.
But Philip Belcher, an executive at the Intertanko independent tanker owners’ association, warned that the central route of the Straits remains closed as there are an estimated 80 mines that need to be cleared. Ships currently use the shorter northern route (via Iranian waters) and the southern route (via Omani waters). It could take weeks or even months to fully restore traffic for the approximately 550 merchant ships that must exit the Persian Gulf.
What the deal provides: The immediate benefits and the Trump “window”.
The US-Iran deal provides for a permanent cessation of hostilities and begins a 60-day countdown to a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, although Trump has left open the possibility of resuming strikes if necessary.
In the first phase, however, the draft seems to offer immediate benefits to Iran:
- Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium must be depleted under international supervision.
- Iran recommits not to develop nuclear weapons.
- The US is moving to lift sanctions, allowing Tehran to sell its oil freely – a huge concession from Washington.
- In contrast, the European Union takes a tougher stance. EU foreign policy chief Kaya Callas made clear on Thursday that the 27-nation bloc would, for now, maintain its own sanctions against Iran, which had been imposed over its nuclear program, human rights abuses and closure of the straits.
