Vice President JD Vance announced on Monday that nuclear inspectors would be allowed back into Iran as part of a US-Iran agreement aimed at ending the Middle East war. Vance confirmed during an interview with NBC News' Tom Llamas that a core part of the agreement involves the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United States assisting Iran in destroying its highly enriched uranium stockpile, a detail explicitly outlined in the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
This MOU, a framework for ending the conflict, is expected to be released after a formal signing ceremony in Switzerland on Friday, aligning with a timeline previously shared by President Donald Trump. While the exact start date for nuclear inspections could be finalized on Friday, Vance expressed optimism, stating that broad agreement on this issue should lead to a rapid implementation.
Vance contrasted this new agreement with the Obama-era Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), arguing that the JCPOA accelerated Iran's nuclear program and bribed them to halt it. He asserted that the current deal is different because Iran's nuclear program has been "completely destroyed." The new agreement, Vance explained, requires Iran to commit long-term to not rebuilding its nuclear weapons program to receive benefits, with a 60-day negotiating period for the final deal.
During this 60-day period, the agreement also stipulates toll-free access in and out of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy shipments. Vance emphasized that the deal aims for Iran to behave like a "normal country," and if they comply, they will receive benefits such as sanctions relief and renewed ties with the West. However, any attempt by Iran to rebuild its nuclear program or fund terrorist groups would result in forfeiture of these benefits. The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to lead to a substantial resumption of oil and gas flows within one to two weeks, which could bring down energy prices for Americans.
