Tehran: Cooperation with the ‘Nuclear Agency’ Continues Based on Existing Frameworks

SadaNews - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baqaei stated that Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will continue according to the currently applicable mechanisms, in line with the decisions of the Iranian Parliament and the Supreme National Security Council.

Baqaei emphasized that Iran's fulfillment of its commitments under the Islamabad agreement will remain tied to the implementation of the other party's promises concerning the end of the war, the continuation of Iranian oil exports, and the release of frozen assets and funds.

His statements came just hours after U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance announced that Iran had agreed to the return of IAEA inspectors, noting that discussions regarding nuclear inspections could begin in the coming days, possibly as early as this week.

Vance viewed the return of inspectors as a "major step" and the start of a process aimed at ensuring that Iran's nuclear program does not become a military one.

The Iranian state news agency "IRNA" reported from sources familiar with the negotiations in Switzerland that the Iranian delegation did not engage in any detailed negotiations regarding the nuclear file during the approximately 18-hour meetings and did not accept any new commitments in this area.

Sources added that the initiation of nuclear negotiations within the framework of the Islamabad agreement to end the conflict between Iran and the United States remains contingent upon the implementation of the thirteenth provision of the memorandum of understanding.

In this context, Baqaei stressed that the talks in Switzerland did not involve detailed negotiations regarding the nuclear program, and Tehran did not commit to any new obligations that exceed the existing legal frameworks of its relationship with the IAEA.

Conversely, the "Tasnim" agency, affiliated with the "Revolutionary Guard," expressed skepticism towards U.S. reports talking about Iran's agreement to the return of IAEA inspectors, describing such a step as "contrary to the understanding" and "highly damaging" to Iranian interests.

This position came after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent's remarks, which linked the issuance of temporary exemptions for Iranian oil exports to commitments he said Tehran had made, including ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and allowing the return of IAEA inspectors.

Tasnim reported that no Iranian official or member of the negotiating team has confirmed this narrative so far, considering that the policy of "nuclear ambiguity" and not disclosing the sites or details of enriched nuclear materials constitutes one of Iran's leverage cards in facing U.S. pressures.

The agency added that allowing inspectors to return could, from its point of view, reduce this ambiguity and provide the United States with additional information about the Iranian nuclear program, which it regarded as "serving the interests of adversaries.".

It also pointed out that the memorandum of understanding does not contain any clause regarding granting such permission, considering that Iran should not bear commitments that exceed what is stated in the agreement.

The agency reported that Iranian officials who participated in the Switzerland talks stated that they objected to the involvement of IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in the meetings.

Tasnim went on to criticize the IAEA, arguing that it has not condemned attacks targeting Iranian nuclear facilities and contending that any discussions about the return of inspectors should be postponed until the final agreement phase, which it said still has uncertain prospects in light of past experiences with the United States.