President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran must allow international inspections to verify it is not restarting its nuclear weapons program, signaling a tough stance ahead of possible new negotiations.
During a White House press conference, Trump was asked if any future deal with Iran would require inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) or another independent body. He replied that Iran would need to agree to oversight by the IAEA “or somebody that we respect, including ourselves.”
Trump’s comments come just days after the U.S. launched airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear sites. Iran’s top diplomat acknowledged that the attacks caused “serious damage” and have complicated any path to renewed talks.
Fallout from the 2015 Deal
The U.S. was originally a party to the 2015 nuclear deal, which placed strict limits on Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief. But Trump withdrew from the deal during his first term, calling it flawed. Now, he says he’s open to negotiating a new agreement—and even claimed a meeting with Iranian officials could happen next week.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cast doubt on that timeline. In a Thursday night interview on state TV, he said no plans have been made to resume negotiations. “No agreement has been made, no time has been set, no promise has been made,” he said.
He also warned that recent U.S. military action had “made it more complicated and more difficult” to resume diplomatic efforts.
Friday Prayers and Hardline Rhetoric
At Friday prayers, Iranian clerics echoed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s declaration that Iran had “won” the war against Israel. Hamzeh Khalili, a top cleric and deputy chief justice, vowed harsh legal action against Iranians accused of spying for Israel.
During the recent war, Iran executed several individuals already in custody on espionage charges, raising alarm among human rights advocates. Authorities are reportedly detaining dozens more on similar accusations.
The war was marked by heavy casualties and destruction. Israel began its strikes on June 13, targeting Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure. According to the Israeli military, their operations killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists. More than 1,000 people reportedly died in the conflict, including at least 417 civilians, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists group.
In response, Iran launched more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, killing 28 people and causing widespread damage. Most of the missiles were intercepted.
U.S. Military Action and Retaliation
On Sunday, the U.S. joined the conflict by launching bunker-busting bombs at three of Iran’s nuclear facilities using B-2 stealth bombers. In retaliation, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. base in Qatar, though no casualties were reported.
Trump claimed the U.S. strikes had “completely and fully obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program. But Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei rejected that claim, saying the attacks had not caused “anything significant.”
Trump responded Friday with defiance. “Look, you’re a man of great faith… You have to tell the truth. You got beat to hell,” he said in a message to Khamenei.
A senior Israeli military official added that Israel believes the strikes severely disrupted Iran’s ability to enrich uranium to weapons-grade levels—potentially delaying its program for an extended period.
Was Iran Prepared?
There is growing speculation that Iran may have moved much of its enriched uranium stockpile before the airstrikes, something the IAEA had been informed of ahead of time. If true, this could limit the long-term impact of the attacks.
Still, IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi said the damage to Iran’s Fordo nuclear facility—buried deep inside a mountain—was “very, very, very considerable.” He stressed that the facility’s centrifuges, which are delicate and precisely calibrated, likely suffered major damage.
“These centrifuges are no longer operational,” Grossi said.
Even Iranian officials have acknowledged the extent of the destruction. “The level of damage is high, and it’s serious damage,” Araghchi admitted.
Iran has not yet decided whether it will allow IAEA inspectors to assess the damage. For now, Araghchi said, international inspectors will be kept out.
As tensions remain high, both sides appear to be weighing whether diplomacy is still possible—or whether the damage, both physical and political, has gone too far.
