Trump and Iran Clash over Nuclear Inspections and Frozen Assets

US President Donald Trump has said Iran agreed to long-term nuclear inspections as part of recent talks, but Tehran has denied that it has begun negotiations on its nuclear program or agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back into the country.

Trump wrote on social media that Iran had “fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future (Infinity!!!)” and said there would be no further negotiations without that commitment.

There is also a dispute over about $12bn in Iranian assets to be released after recent talks in Switzerland. Trump said the money would remain in escrow under US control and be used exclusively to buy food and medical supplies from the United States, including corn, wheat and soybeans.

Ali Bahreini, Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, rejected that account and said Tehran alone would decide how to use its own funds.

Both sides also announced working groups on sanctions and nuclear activities.

Bahreini warned that further attacks on Lebanon would be a “red line” for Iran and called on Washington to use its influence over Israel.

(Reuters, mja)