A New York Times report said overnight that, despite Iranian denials, the question of allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors into Iran was discussed in the negotiations. According to people familiar with the talks, the idea under consideration would give the IAEA broad powers to inspect almost any suspect site on short notice.
The sources said IAEA chief Rafael Grossi was present in the corridors and rooms where the negotiations were taking place, speaking with the parties and explaining what level of access his inspection teams would require. They added that the Iranians appeared to accept the plan in principle, but did not want to agree to dates or other specific details until other parts of the deal were discussed.
Meanwhile, the ambiguity around the memorandum of understanding with Iran continued. After Iran’s Foreign Ministry said it would not allow the IAEA to visit nuclear sites damaged during the war, contrary to comments by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, President Donald Trump said the previous day that the statements were false and declared, "Iran agreed to the highest level of nuclear inspection, fully and completely, forever."
In Washington, the Senate passed a war powers resolution on Iran by 50 to 48, with four Republican senators joining Democrats. The measure, already approved by the House, says the president must get congressional approval before taking military action against Iran. Trump called the four Republicans "losers," said they had made his job harder, and added on TRUTH that the vote gave "aid and comfort to the enemy." Although the resolution is symbolic and not legally binding, the bipartisan support was seen as a political embarrassment for Trump. Fox News also reported that the U.S. war against Iran has cost $80 billion, twice the amount first given to Congress.
Separately, Channel 13 reported that Gulf states have also told Washington the Iran deal is "very bad." To calm U.S. allies, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is due to travel on a special mission to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait to stress that the memorandum is not final and can be scrapped if Iran does not comply.
