High level US Iran talks advance release of frozen assets

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says Iran's interactions with the United Nations nuclear watchdog will continue in accordance with current procedures. Meanwhile, Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati says the first round of high-level talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland had significantly advanced efforts to release frozen Iranian assets, while US Vice President JD Vance suggested the funds could be channelled towards American farm exports.

This comes as the lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insists the Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran and would follow international laws. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran's interactions with the United Nations nuclear watchdog will continue in accordance with current procedures. He made the remarks in an interview with the official news agency IRNA, in response to US officials' claims that Iran has agreed to invite inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to the country.

Iran's interactions with the IAEA will continue in accordance with the country's obligations under the safeguards agreement with the agency and the existing procedures, and in compliance with the Iranian parliament's approvals and the Supreme National Security Council's decisions, Baghaei said. He said there's been no visit scheduled for inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency to see nuclear sites earlier bombed by the US.

Meanwhile, Iran's Central Bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said the first round of high-level talks between the US and Iran in Switzerland had significantly advanced efforts to release frozen Iranian assets. Hemmati told the country's semi-official Tasnim News Agency "significant progress" had been made on the asset releases, with the relevant documents signed during the negotiations.

US Vice President JD Vance said if the US agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets, the funds could be used to purchase American soybeans, corn and wheat. This comes as the lead negotiator of the Iranian delegation, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, insisted the Strait of Hormuz will be managed by Iran and would follow international laws.

Qalibaf, who is also the speaker of the Iranian parliament, spoke with Iran state media on a plane on his way back from Switzerland. "Hopefully we can activate the strait again, in terms of passage, and bring prosperity back to the regional and global economy" he said.

Elsewhere, US President Donald Trump appeared optimistic about the peace negotiations. US President Donald Trump said As long as they respect us, we're going to be fine. They don't respect us, things wouldn't be good. But they have a lot of respect. Don't forget, we had presidents that should have done this for 47 years. Nobody did it. Obama gave them a road to a nuclear weapon. I gave them a wall against another. They can never, under this agreement, they'll never even think about building a nuclear bomb.