US Vice President JD Vance [Reuters/Yonhap News Archive]

International nuclear inspectors are scheduled to return to Iran, stated US Vice President JD Vance.

In an interview with NBC News on the 16th (local time), Vice President Vance responded to a question about the return of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to Iran, saying, "It is one of the core provisions clearly stipulated in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and Iran to end the war."

While Vance mentioned that the timeline for resuming inspections will be discussed later, he expressed anticipation, stating, "Because there is broad consensus, the resumption of inspections will also be carried out promptly."

He added, "The IAEA and the United States will support the work of disposing of Iran's stockpiles of highly enriched uranium."

Furthermore, Vice President Vance emphasized the need for agreement implementation, saying, "If Iran adheres to its long-term commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, it can develop into a successful nation."

Vance revealed that the US and Iran have agreed on a basic framework to end the war, and the full text of the MOU is scheduled to be released after the official signing ceremony to be held in Switzerland on the 19th.

Regarding the delay in the document's release, he explained, "It is necessary to coordinate the technical details of the implementation process rather than the agreement itself," and introduced Qatar and Pakistan as having played important roles in the mediation process.

He also dismissed some assessments that the agreement reached by the Trump administration with Iran is not significantly different from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was signed during the Obama administration in 2015.

Vice President Vance argued, "The Obama administration essentially paid Iran to halt its nuclear program. However, now, Iran's nuclear program has been completely dismantled."

Regarding the proposal for imposing transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz, raised within Iran, he stated, "An agreement has been reached for ships to pass through freely for 60 days while final negotiations are underway."

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian evaluated the agreement with the United States as "significant progress towards halting the war and starting negotiations," but also stated, "A final agreement has not yet been formed."