US eases oil sanctions/Iran denies return of nuclear inspectors

2026-06-23 09:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Iran has rejected US Vice President JD Vance's claim that it will allow nuclear inspectors to return to the country, following the first round of talks between Washington and Tehran to reach a final agreement.

After negotiations in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could begin soon. However, Iran's Foreign Ministry told state media that Tehran had made "no new commitments" regarding nuclear inspections.

Meanwhile, the United States has temporarily lifted some sanctions on Iran, allowing the country to sell oil in U.S. dollars for the first time in decades. The 60-day permit issued by the U.S. Treasury Department allows the production, sale and transportation of Iranian oil and petrochemical products until August 21.

According to US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in exchange for this relief, Iran had pledged to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and allow the return of IAEA inspectors.

However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei stated that any cooperation with UN inspectors will only take place according to existing procedures approved by Iran's parliament and national security bodies.

In 2015, Iran and six world powers reached a nuclear deal that allowed for IAEA inspections. But in 2018, during his first term, US President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the agreement, calling it "bad".

Vance also said Iranian negotiators had threatened to walk away from the talks after Trump warned on social media that the US could hit Iran "very hard again" if necessary.

According to Iranian media, the main Iranian negotiators have already left the talks, while technical groups will continue work on nuclear issues, sanctions and reconstruction.

Meanwhile, mediators from Qatar and Pakistan announced that a communication line has been established to avoid incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and a coordination mechanism between the US, Iran and Lebanon to help maintain the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the first real test of the agreement would be the situation in Lebanon, where the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah remains fragile. /CNA