U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Monday that international nuclear inspectors will return to Iran under the terms of a proposed agreement aimed at ending the months-long conflict between the United States and Iran.
In an interview with NBC News, Vance stated that the return of inspectors is a central component of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) negotiated between the two countries.
“Yes, absolutely,” Vance said when asked whether inspectors would be allowed back into Iran. He explained that the agreement calls for the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States to assist Iran in eliminating its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
According to Vance, the framework agreement has already been accepted by both sides, although the full text will not be released until a formal signing ceremony scheduled for Friday in Switzerland.
The vice president said remaining discussions involve implementation details rather than the substance of the agreement itself. He noted that regional actors, including Qatar and Pakistan, played important roles in facilitating negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Vance indicated that the timeline for restarting nuclear inspections could also be finalized during the signing ceremony, expressing confidence that the process would move quickly because both sides broadly agree on the issue.
The proposed agreement is designed to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program while offering economic and diplomatic incentives if Tehran complies with its commitments.
“If the Iranians comply, benefits will flow to them,” Vance said, adding that the United States wants Iran to function as a stable and prosperous nation provided it permanently abandons efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
The vice president also pushed back against criticism from former President Barack Obama, who recently questioned whether the emerging agreement would be significantly different from the 2015 nuclear accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Vance argued that the new framework differs substantially from the Obama-era agreement because, in his view, Iran’s nuclear infrastructure has already been dismantled following the recent conflict.
“The Iranian nuclear program has been completely destroyed,” Vance said, arguing that the new agreement focuses on preventing reconstruction of that capability rather than limiting an existing program.
Another major component of the framework concerns the strategic Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Vance said the agreement guarantees toll-free access through the waterway for at least 60 days while negotiations continue toward a final settlement.
The reopening of the strait is considered crucial for stabilizing global energy markets after disruptions caused by the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the framework as an important step toward ending the war and launching formal negotiations, while cautioning that a comprehensive final agreement has not yet been completed.
The proposed accord represents one of the most significant diplomatic developments in the Middle East in recent years and could reshape relations between Iran and the United States if successfully implemented.
