Dispute over nuclear inspections shows how U.S. and Iran are negotiating in public

By — Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press By — Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Jon Gambrell, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/dispute-over-nuclear-inspections-shows-how-u-s-and-iran-are-negotiating-in-public Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Dispute over nuclear inspections shows how U.S. and Iran are negotiating in public World Jun 24, 2026 3:53 PM EDT TOKYO (AP) — The head of the U.N.'s nuclear agency said Wednesday that Iranian nuclear enrichment sites would be visited by his inspectors as part of the interim U.S.-Iran deal to reach an end to the war. An Iranian diplomat instead insisted any such visit would only come after a final deal. The comments echoed contradictory remarks about nuclear inspections a day earlier from the U.S. and Iran. During the week since the two countries signed the deal, their leaders have repeatedly disagreed in public about what that document actually means. WATCH: U.S. and Iran at odds over nuclear inspections, Strait of Hormuz fees International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Mariano Grossi on Wednesday acknowledged the "war of words" over Iran's nuclear program. But the dueling narratives are playing out on several fronts, including Israel's war with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and how Tehran will spend billions of dollars once unfrozen. Through the signing of the memorandum of understanding, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a 60-day period to iron out these and other details. Until that happens — during private talks — leaders from both countries will also continue to negotiate in public, raising the risks of derailing the shaky ceasefire in the region. The fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, a threat to the U.S.-Iran diplomacy, flared on Wednesday. Israel launched an airstrike that killed two people in southern Lebanon, the country's state-run news agency said. It was Israel's first airstrike on Lebanon since the latest ceasefire took effect on Saturday. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military on the strike. UN's nuclear agency head says inspections will happen Since Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran in 2025, the IAEA has been blocked by Tehran from visiting enrichment sites. The Islamic Republic is believed to store enough highly enriched uranium to potentially build as many as 10 nuclear weapons, should it choose. Iran maintains that its program is peaceful, though it is the only country in the world to have uranium enriched up to 60% purity without a weapons program. Grossi's remarks were the firmest yet from the United Nations agency, which is central to determining the status of Iran's nuclear stockpile. "I can understand political statements, they are part of the reality, but the fundamental thing I would like to remind you and draw your attention to is that there has been a memorandum of understanding, signed by both presidents," he sai