Pennsylvania/Islamabad: A fresh rift has opened between Washington and Tehran over how to implement a recently signed memorandum of understanding, after US President Donald Trump said Iran had agreed to extensive nuclear inspections — a claim Iranian officials have disputed.
Trump, speaking to reporters upon arriving in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, dismissed Tehran’s statement that the International Atomic Energy Agency had not been slated to visit.
“They’re wrong, they’re wrong, they know they’re wrong,” he said, adding that “we have it down 100%. And if they were right, I’d cancel the meetings right now.”
He also indicated that inspectors would enter Iran “at the appropriate time” and stressed there was “no rush,” declining to provide a firm timetable, as reported by ABP News.
rong>Tehran Disputes Scope
Iranian leaders quickly rejected Trump’s broader interpretation of the agreement, particularly any suggestion that the deal covered security matters beyond nuclear oversight.
Speaking in Islamabad, President Masoud Pezeshkian made clear that Iran’s missile arsenal was not on the negotiating table and would remain excluded from future talks. He defended the country’s defenses, saying, “If we did not have the missiles we use for our defense, Israel and the United States would have devastated Iran.”
MoU Limited To Nuclear & Economic Items
The text of the MoU released last week focuses on nuclear commitments and regional economic measures. It outlines steps related to reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, easing certain financial restrictions, and creating a structure for follow-up nuclear discussions. The document does not mention Iran’s missile programme; it instead records Tehran’s pledge not to “procure or develop nuclear weapons,” while leaving other defence-related matters outside the agreement.
Trump Highlights Iran’s Hardship
Against that backdrop, Trump also sought to emphasise Iran’s economic difficulties, saying international pressure and sanctions had left the country struggling. He said, “They have a hunger problem. They have a food problem. They have a medicine problem. Their inflation is at 300%. They have a lot of problems.”