US Secretary of State: Trump Will Decide if Iran Rejects IAEA Inspections

US President Donald Trump will be forced to make a decision if Iran refuses to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding nuclear inspections, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday (23/6).

“Regardless of their internal or domestic political situation, I believe they will handle it. However, we know what they have agreed to do, and now they must choose whether to implement it or not. If they implement it, the process will continue. If not, the President (Trump) will have to make a number of decisions,” said Rubio.

Previously, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaeli stated that the IAEA has no plans to inspect Iranian nuclear facilities that were damaged due to the impact of conflict.

Meanwhile, Trump stated on Tuesday that there is no urgency for IAEA inspectors to begin their visit to Iran immediately, adding that they would arrive in due course.

The US delegation is led by Vice President J.D. Vance, while the Iranian team is led by the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Both Baghaeli and Vance subsequently announced that progress had been made in the discussions.

On Monday (22/6), Baghaeli stated that Iran would continue to cooperate with the IAEA based on currently applicable principles. Meanwhile, Vance noted that IAEA inspectors could arrive in Iran as early as this week.