Vice President JD Vance said Iran has agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) back into the country and pledged that any Iranian assets released from sanctions would be subject to U.S. oversight and verification.
The announcement came on Monday following the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland. "The Iranians have agreed to invite the IAEA inspector back into their country. That is a major milestone for the American people and the first step in permanently ending the nuclear weapons program in Iran," Vance stated during a press conference in Buergenstock, Switzerland.
Vance said that if any frozen Iranian assets are ever released in the future, it would be directed toward humanitarian and civilian needs, not militant groups, and rejected reports claiming otherwise as inaccurate. The Vice President also said that those funds, if at all released, would be tightly controlled and that both the U.S. and Qatar would have oversight and approval authority over how any unfrozen assets are spent.
Vance further noted that the funds would be used to purchase "American soy, American corn and American wheat for the benefit of the Iranian people," asserting that this would also aid U.S. farmers.
He expressed optimism about the progress made during the talks and the foundation laid for a final agreement and permanent peace.
"If we can't, the president of the United States still has a lot of options to accomplish America's security objectives," Vance said.
