Iran to allow UN nuclear inspectors back in, Vance says

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that Iran agreed to let International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors return to the country after a new round of U.S.-Iran talks in Switzerland, in what would be the clearest diplomatic opening yet in a conflict that has left the nuclear dispute unresolved.

Axios first reported the announcement, saying the understanding followed talks in Switzerland and that the Treasury Department had issued sanctions waivers tied to the negotiations. AP later reported that Vance described the meetings as laying a “good foundation” for a final agreement, while The Guardian said the talks left broader nuclear commitments unfinished.

What was announced

If carried out as described, the reported arrangement would restore outside access to Iranian nuclear sites after inspectors had been out of the country since the June 2025 war. Coverage said cooperation with the IAEA was cut off after that conflict, when the U.S. and Israel bombed key Iranian nuclear sites.

The talks were described as an 18-hour session at the Bürgenstock resort in Switzerland. Qatar and Pakistan were said to have helped mediate the discussions.

What the sanctions relief does

Axios reported that the Treasury waivers would allow Iran to sell oil more freely. The Guardian described the relief as a 60-day sanctions waiver. The exact scope of the measures has not been independently confirmed across the available reporting.

The waivers appear to be part of a broader memorandum of understanding tied to the diplomacy rather than a final nuclear settlement. That makes them a meaningful sign of movement, but also one that could be reversed if the talks stall.

What remains unresolved

AP reported that technical negotiations will continue after the leaders’ talks. That means the political signal from Vance still has to be turned into an operational inspection regime and a more durable agreement.

It remains unclear how much access inspectors would actually receive, which sites they would be allowed to inspect, and how long any sanctions relief would last. It is also not yet clear whether Tehran will publicly confirm Vance’s account in the same terms.

Some reporting has said Iranian messaging was mixed, underscoring how fragile the apparent breakthrough remains. Even with inspectors potentially returning, the broader nuclear framework is still not done.

The immediate next step is more technical work, followed by further statements from U.S. officials, Iranian representatives or the IAEA. For now, the reported deal points to a possible de-escalation, but not a settled end to the dispute.