Tehran Rejects "Dictated Diplomacy": Iran Denies Interim Deal Rumors and Defies IAEA Inspections of Damaged Sites

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei clarified Monday that rumors of an "interim agreement" with the U.S. are baseless, asserting that "negotiations starting with dictates and prejudices will lead to no results." Speaking ahead of the upcoming Geneva talks, Baghaei emphasized that any diplomatic text must be a mutual product, reaffirming Iran's goal to lift "unjust sanctions" while maintaining transparency in its nuclear program.

Baghaei also addressed the IAEA's demand to inspect sites damaged by previous U.S. strikes. He argued that Iran is not legally bound to allow such inspections, as no international protocol exists for inspecting peaceful nuclear facilities targeted by foreign military aggression. While stating Iran fulfilled its 2025 obligations, he insisted that until a specific protocol is established, the damaged sites remain off-limits, marking a significant hurdle for the Thursday summit.