US President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday that Iran had agreed to the "highest level nuclear inspections" in perpetuity, even after Tehran said nothing had changed in its cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. "Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!)," he wrote on Truth Social. "This will insure 'Nuclear Honesty.' If they did not agree to this, there would be no further negotiations!"
Divergent Narratives on Nuclear Talks
It was the latest salvo in dueling narratives about the state of the talks, which began over the weekend in Switzerland. On Monday, Vice President JD Vance said a "major milestone" had been reached when Iran agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency into the country. He didn't specify what type of access they would have. And hours later, Tehran said its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog would continue "under the current procedures."
US Blockade and Humanitarian Claims
Trump, in his post, reaffirmed the US blockade of Iranian ports would remain lifted, a provision of the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran last week. And he claimed any financial relief offered to Iran would come with conditions, namely that freed-up money would be put toward "the purchase of food and medical supplies, exclusively from the United States, including Corn, Wheat, and Soybeans from our great American Farmers." "These are things that are desperately needed by Iran. This is a humanitarian crisis, and I feel it is necessary to help, NOW, before it is too late. Talks are going well!" he wrote.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic and Oil Prices
At least 172 vessels have crossed through the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Iran signed a deal aimed at ending the war, including 42 ships on Saturday alone, according to new data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler. The number of vessels making the transit from 18 June, the day after the deal was signed, is still well below the pre-conflict average of some 138 crossings each day. Ship-tracking data analysed by BBC Verify shows more than 200 tankers appear to be waiting inside the strait on Tuesday, with at least 10 ships moving west into the Gulf so far. The price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, has dropped to its lowest level since the war began.
Iranian Oil Exports and Sanctions Relief
Many of the tankers that have transited the strait in recent days have been linked with Iran following the lifting of the US naval blockade as part of the deal. At least 30 tankers have departed from the Gulf laden with Iranian oil and petrochemicals since the deal was agreed, according to Jemima Shelley, a senior research analyst at the United Against Nuclear Iran campaign and monitoring group. The US Treasury has also eased decades-old sanctions by issuing a license to allow the sale of Iranian crude oil, petrochemicals and other oil products until 21 August.
Rubio's Gulf Tour and International Law
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran will not be able to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as part of any final agreement with the US, saying that such an arrangement would be contrary to international law. Rubio's comments come as he landed in Abu Dhabi, the first stop on a tour of the Gulf states hit hard by Iran's retaliatory campaign. Rubio is to meet Emirati leaders tomorrow, before heading to Kuwait, followed by Bahrain for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as he seeks to reassure US allies after the signing of an initial US-Iran deal last week.
