Iran rejects IAEA inspections before final deal with US

Iran has no plan to provide the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with access to its nuclear facilities bombed by the United States and Israel, a senior Iranian diplomat said Wednesday, noting that such issues will be resolved solely within the framework of a potential final agreement with Washington, reported Xinhua.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said on social media platform X that access to Iran's nuclear facilities and materials "will be reviewed and resolved solely within the framework of the final agreement and as a result of the other party's practical action to terminate all sanctions."

He also said no meeting was held between Iran's negotiating team and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Switzerland in recent days, despite Grossi's request.

His remarks came after Grossi said earlier in the day that the IAEA would carry out inspections in Iran in view of the recently-signed U.S.-Iran peace memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The MoU, signed on June 18, provides for 60 days of negotiations, which are already underway, toward a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program and sanctions removal. The first round of negotiations was held in Switzerland on Sunday and Monday.

Iran's three main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were bombed by the United States during the "12-day war" in June 2025. The sites have again been at the center of the conflict that erupted on Feb. 28 this year, with the United States and Israel launching strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Iran had assured Washington it is not seeking tolls, insurance fees, or other charges from ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, warning that negotiations between the two sides would end immediately if the information proved false.

"Iran has informed the U.S. that, despite troublemaking Fake News reporting to the contrary, there are 'NO TOLLS, NO INSURANCE COSTS, & NO OTHER CHARGES OF ANY KIND BEING SOUGHT OR RECEIVED BY IRAN ON SHIPS TRAVELING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ,'" Trump wrote on his Truth Social.

"If this is false information, negotiations would end, immediately!" Trump warned.

Trump also dismissed speculation that Washington had released money directly to Tehran.

"Additionally, no money has been given to Iran, or released from their money to them, by the U.S.," Trump wrote.

However, the president said the White House could release a portion of Iranian assets under U.S. control for the purchase of agricultural products, including corn, wheat and soybeans, only from American farmers.

"We will be releasing some of their money, that is totally controlled by us, to our Farmers and Ranchers, for the purchase of Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, and more," Trump said, adding "we will be purchasing it for them exclusively from the United States."

Trump's remarks came one day after Iran and Oman issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz and agreeing to continue their discussions to reach an understanding on the future management of navigation in the strait and the related charging service "costs."

Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Tuesday that only a limited number of vessels are allowed to pass through the strait each day based on coordination with the Navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps.

According to Fars, the strait had been closed for days following Israel's "hostile" actions against Lebanon and the U.S. "violations" of its commitments under the recently signed U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MoU), which led to a 60-day roadmap toward a final peace agreement.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said here Wednesday that U.S.-Iran technical talks are expected to resume next week, likely on June 29 or 30 in Switzerland.

Rubio made the announcement during an official visit to Kuwait, where he met with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

The meeting focused on bilateral cooperation and regional developments, it reported.

Speaking to reporters in Kuwait City, Rubio said the United States remains committed to close coordination with its Gulf partners.

He did not provide further details on the upcoming technical talks.

Rubio's Kuwait visit is part of a three-day regional tour running from Tuesday to Thursday, which includes the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, where he is scheduled to attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting on regional security.

Before meeting the emir, Rubio attended a flag-raising ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait, marking its reopening after a nearly four-month closure. The embassy had temporarily suspended its services following drone and missile attacks in early March amid the latest regional conflict.

The embassy said on social media platform X that it officially resumed operations at midnight on Wednesday and will begin providing emergency services to U.S. citizens, with other consular services to be restored gradually.