US President Donald Trump on Tuesday insisted that Iran has agreed to “highest level” nuclear inspections even as Iranian officials disputed his claim, exposing how much remains contested even with a tentative agreement in place.
“Despite their protestations and false statements to the contrary … Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!),” Trump wrote on social media on Tuesday morning.
“This will insure ‘Nuclear Honesty.’ If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!”
Trump said he had agreed to keep the strategic Strait of Hormuz open based on this agreement but could reinstate the US naval blockade, even though it was “at this point, highly unlikely”.
His comments came after Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations Ali Bahreini told reporters that Tehran has yet to agree to the deployment of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor its nuclear activities. He said a working group that has yet to be convened would discuss whether inspectors would travel to Iran.
Weighing in on Wednesday during a visit to Japan, IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi said inspectors would visit Iran’s nuclear sites, as it was a key component in the interim US-Iran deal. “Whether this happens the day after tomorrow or in one week or in 10 days, it’s important, but not essential. This is going to happen.”
