President Donald Trump and Iranian officials publicly contradicted each other Tuesday over one of the most important issues in ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations: whether Tehran has agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to examine its nuclear facilities.
The dispute emerged just as Washington began offering economic concessions, including a temporary authorization for Iranian oil sales and the easing of restrictions tied to the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the fragile nature of diplomatic efforts aimed at transforming a temporary understanding into a broader agreement.
Trump used a social media post to declare that Iran had already accepted extensive international monitoring of its nuclear program despite public denials from Tehran.
"Despite their protestations and false statements to the contrary, coupled with the drumbeat of the Fake News, which is doing everything possible to make the U.S. Victory as small and insignificant as possible, Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!)," Trump wrote.
The president argued that international inspections were a central condition for continuing negotiations.
He added that the arrangement would guarantee "Nuclear Honesty" and stated that "there would be no further negotiations" if Tehran had refused to accept the inspection framework.
Trump's comments came only hours after Iranian officials publicly disputed the administration's characterization of the talks.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqhaei said Iran had not agreed to any immediate inspection process involving the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
"We do not have a meeting with the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, nor do we have any plans for the agency to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities damaged by the U.S. and Zionist military aggression," Baqhaei said.
The spokesman suggested that any future cooperation with the IAEA would depend on prior implementation of provisions contained in the emerging diplomatic framework.
"We are currently working to ensure that all these clauses are fulfilled as prerequisites for the start of negotiations," he added.
The conflicting statements have exposed a potentially significant gap between how Washington and Tehran are presenting the status of negotiations. While U.S. officials have portrayed inspections as a major breakthrough already secured, Iranian officials appear to be describing them as contingent on future developments.
The disagreement surfaced as the Trump administration moved forward with economic incentives designed to support the negotiating process.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Monday that the Treasury Department had issued "a temporary 60-day general license authorizing the production, delivery, and sale of Iranian oil."
According to U.S. officials, the decision was linked to commitments involving shipping access through the Strait of Hormuz and cooperation on nuclear oversight.
Trump emphasized the connection in his social media statement, writing that because of "this and other major concessions being made by Iran, I have agreed to allow the Hormuz Strait to remain OPEN, with no further Naval Blockade."
The president also outlined how Iranian funds released under the arrangement would be handled.
"The Money and/or Sanctions that the U.S. Treasury is releasing goes into escrow, controlled by the U.S.A., and will be used for the purchase of food and medical supplies, exclusively from the United States, including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American Farmers," Trump said.
He described the measure as a humanitarian necessity, adding: "These are things that are desperately needed by Iran. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to help, NOW, before it is too late. Talks are going well!"
Vice President JD Vance reinforced the administration's position earlier this week, arguing that inspection access represented a critical achievement.
"It's a major milestone and a first step in permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran," Vance said.
Vance also indicated that logistical coordination between the United States, Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency could begin immediately, saying discussions could take place "this week, maybe as soon as today."
