U.S. President Donald Trump made the resumption of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities a fait accompli and publicly pressed the Iranian government. Even as Iran countered that it "has not decided to accept inspections," Trump dismissed it, saying, "They are wrong."
On the 23rd, local time, at Reading Regional Airport in Pennsylvania, President Trump told reporters about the timing of an IAEA inspection team's visit to Iran, saying, "They will be on the ground at an appropriate time." Earlier, Vice President JD Vance said at a news conference the day before that "Iran has agreed to re-invite the IAEA inspection team," adding that inspection activities would resume this week. But the Iranian government immediately denied it.
Esmaeil Baghaei, Spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said that day, "Reports that we accepted inspections of nuclear facilities are not true," and added, "Whether inspections resume will be decided according to the course and outcome of future cease-fire negotiations."
Regarding Iran's position, President Trump said, "They are wrong," and added, "If they are right, I will cancel the meeting right now." With the United States and Iran proceeding with follow-up talks after recently signing a cease-fire memorandum of understanding (MOU), the refusal of nuclear inspections is seen as a warning that it could jeopardize the negotiations themselves.
The United States is demanding IAEA verification of nuclear facilities as a key condition of the talks. Iran, on the other hand, is taking a cautious stance on international calls for additional inspections of nuclear facilities damaged by U.S. airstrikes.
Trump also said during a visit to the Mack Trucks manufacturing plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, that "we are doing quite well in negotiations with Iran." He further claimed, "Iran will never possess nuclear weapons, and Iran agreed to this." He added, "Iran's economy has been devastated, and its defense industrial base has also taken a serious hit," and said, "Rebuilding will take a long time."