'That's The Core': JD Vance Says Nuclear Inspectors Will 'Absolutely' Return To Iran Under Deal

Last Updated:June 16, 2026, 05:39 IST

The issue of uranium enrichment and international inspections has long been at the center of disputes over Iran's nuclear programme.

International nuclear inspectors will be allowed back into Iran under the terms of the newly negotiated US-Iran memorandum of understanding, US Vice President JD Vance said, offering fresh details about the agreement as the Trump administration prepares for a formal signing ceremony later this week.

Speaking to NBC News’ Nightly News, JD Vance said the return of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a key pillar of the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran.

“Yes, absolutely," JD Vance said when asked whether inspectors would be permitted to re-enter Iran.

“That is in fact one of the core parts of the agreement," he added.

The comments provide one of the clearest indications yet of how the Trump administration intends to verify Iran’s compliance with commitments made under the deal, which US President Donald Trump described as a “powerful document" designed to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon while ending the conflict between the two countries.

According to JD Vance, the memorandum explicitly calls for cooperation between Iran, the IAEA and the United States to eliminate Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.

“The memorandum explicitly says that the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States will work with Iran to get rid of the highly enriched uranium stockpile," JD Vance said, asserting, “That’s spelled out very clearly in the MOU."

The issue of uranium enrichment and international inspections has long been at the center of disputes over Iran’s nuclear programme. The return of inspectors is likely to be viewed as a major confidence-building measure as negotiators move from a broad political agreement to detailed implementation talks.

JD Vance said discussions on how and when inspectors would return, as well as the process for handling Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, would be among the issues addressed during the next phase of negotiations.

“That’s one of the things we’re going to talk about on Friday, when everybody gets together, signs this agreement, and kicks off the technical negotiations," he said.

While the full text of the memorandum has not yet been released, JD Vance’s comments suggest that international monitoring and the disposition of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile will be central components of the accord as negotiations move into the implementation phase.

News world 'That's The Core': JD Vance Says Nuclear Inspectors Will 'Absolutely' Return To Iran Under Deal

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