U.S. and Iran Start 60-Day Ceasefire Talks as Inspectors’ Return Becomes Major Point of Contention

Overview

• A remotely signed memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington put both sides into a 60-day negotiation period aimed at ending hostilities and pursuing a comprehensive agreement.
• The MoU includes broad political and economic items such as lifting U.S. sanctions, a plan for reconstruction funding, removal of a U.S. naval blockade, and restoration of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
• Iran’s foreign ministry says clause 9 preserves the current status of its nuclear program during talks and that inspections of sites whose access was suspended after attacks will depend on negotiation outcomes while inspections at facilities like Bushehr will continue.
• U.S. officials including the president’s special envoy and the vice president have publicly said IAEA inspectors will return to Iran and that Tehran will identify locations of enriched material, creating a clear public split with Iran’s account.
• The scheduling of in-person talks is in flux after a planned Switzerland meeting was canceled and may be rescheduled soon, and the dispute over IAEA access will shape verification steps, sequencing of concessions, and oversight by U.S. lawmakers.