The US has partially lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports following “encouraging” talks over ending their months-long war.
The Treasury on Monday issued a 60-day sanctions waiver that would allow Iran to sell oil in US dollars for the first time in decades. The high-stakes talks aimed at finalising a deal to end the war were expected to continue after US vice president JD Vance claimed they “laid a very good foundation for a successful final deal”.
However, Iran reportedly denied a claim by Vance that Tehran would allow nuclear inspectors back into the country following initial talks in Switzerland.
Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could be happening “as soon as today”. But Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran had made “no new commitments” on nuclear inspections.
Iran’s lead negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insisted on Monday that the Strait of Hormuz would be managed by Iran and follow international laws.
“Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to regional and global economy,” he said.
Iran’s lead negotiator insists Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran
The lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insisted that the Strait of Hormuz would be managed by Iran and would follow international laws.
Qalibaf, who is also the speaker of the parliament, spoke with Iran’s state media on a plane on his way back from Switzerland.
“Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to the regional and global economy” he said.
Qalibaf confirmed that the issue of releasing the frozen assets, as well as the sale of Iranian oil were discussed in the talks with the US.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar23 June 2026 04:40
Iran disputes Vance’s nuclear inspection claims
Iran has reportedly denied a claim by US vice president JD Vance that Tehran would allow nuclear inspectors back into the country following initial talks in Switzerland.
Vance said discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency could be happening “as soon as today”.
However, Iran’s foreign ministry said Tehran had made “no new commitments” on nuclear inspections.
Since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran in 2025, inspectors have visited the Islamic Republic.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar23 June 2026 04:20
US partially lifts Iran oil sanctions
The US has partially lifted sanctions on Iranian oil exports following “encouraging” talks over ending their months-long war.
The US Treasury yesteday issued a 60-day sanctions waiver after the first talks under a nascent peace deal.
US vice president JD Vance said talks with Iranian officials in Switzerland had laid a good foundation for a final peace deal, although Iran denied that it had begun discussions of its nuclear program.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar23 June 2026 04:14
Watch: Trump says Israel would be ‘eviscerated’ without him
Rebecca Whittaker23 June 2026 04:00
Netanyahu’s claims about Iran’s nuclear program run counter to public evidence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran would have developed a nuclear weapon and used it on Israel were it not for the two recent wars. There is no public evidence for that assessment, which runs counter to those of the U.N. nuclear watchdog and U.S. intelligence agencies.
For decades, Netanyahu has made dire predictions about Iran’s disputed nuclear program, most famously at the United Nations with visual aids. The rhetoric has escalated since the U.S. and Iran reached an interim peace deal this month, and as Netanyahu faces elections later this year.
Read more here:
FACT FOCUS: Netanyahu’s claims about Iran’s nuclear program run counter to public evidence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran would have developed a nuclear weapon and used it on Israel were it not for the two wars of the past yearRebecca Whittaker23 June 2026 03:00
Recap: What did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
Negotiators for the US and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend for talks on a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said they had agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal on ending their war in 60 days.
They also said the two sides had agreed to a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
And they said they had opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, the joint statement said.
Rebecca Whittaker23 June 2026 02:00
Vance claims Iran will allow nuclear inspectors in after hailing ‘great progress’ in peace talks
JD Vance said on Monday that Iran has agreed to allow nuclear inspectors into the country again following an initial round of discussions aimed at resolving the conflict with the United States.
Speaking after discussions in Switzerland, the US vice president said the development was “probably what we’re most excited about as Americans”, and that plans could be drawn up as soon as this week.
Iran’s nuclear programme has been at the centre of the dispute with the US and Israel since before the conflict erupted, and remains the focus of the new 60-day window for talks to finalise a deal to end the war.
Read more here:
Vance claims Iran will let nuclear inspectors in following ‘great progress’ in talks
JD Vance insisted the first talks had laid a ‘good foundation’ for a final deal, despite lingering concerns over Lebanon and the Strait of HormuzRebecca Whittaker23 June 2026 01:00
Watch: Vance claims Trump wants to ‘turn over new leaf’ in ties with Iranian people
Rebecca Whittaker23 June 2026 00:00
What did the US and Iran agree in Switzerland?
Negotiators for the US and Iran met in Switzerland over the weekend for talks on a lasting resolution to the conflict.
Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said they had agreed to a roadmap towards a final deal on ending their war in 60 days.
They also said the two sides had agreed to a mechanism to end fighting between US ally Israel and Iran-aligned Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
And they said they had opened a communications line to help ensure safe passage for commercial ships through the strait, a vital global supply route for oil and liquefied natural gas.
Technical talks will continue for the rest of the week in the Qatari-owned Swiss mountain resort of Buergenstock, the joint statement said.
James Reynolds22 June 2026 23:00
Recap: Iran agreed to allow more nuclear inspectors, Vance says
JD Vance told reporters in Switzerland on Monday that Iran had agreed to admit inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as talks continue.
He said the development “is probably what we’re most excited about as Americans”.
“That is a major milestone for the American people, and the first step in permanently denuclearizing or permanently ending a nuclear weapons program in Iran, and that’s exactly what we wanted to do,” he added.
James Reynolds22 June 2026 22:00NewerOlder