US, Iran to resume technical talks in Switzerland amid clashing remarks on nuclear inspections

Despite conflicting narratives from the U.S. and Iran regarding international inspections of Iran's struck nuclear facilities, the two nations are set to resume technical-level negotiations in Switzerland at the end of June, focusing on Iran's nuclear program and sanctions removal, according to media reports.

In a Fox News interview on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American personnel would participate in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspections of Iranian nuclear sites.

Trump said in the interview that the Iranians have "agreed to the inspectors", but he stressed that there is "no rush" regarding the inspectors' deployment.

However, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Kazem Gharibabadi said Wednesday on social media platform X that access to Iran's nuclear facilities and materials "will be reviewed and resolved solely within the framework of the final agreement and as a result of the other party's practical action to terminate all sanctions".

He also said no meeting was held between Iran's negotiating team and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi in Switzerland in recent days, despite Grossi's request.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that U.S.-Iran technical talks are expected to resume next week, likely on June 29 or 30 in Switzerland.

Rubio made the announcement during an official visit to Kuwait, where he met with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwait News Agency reported.

Rubio said the discussions will be conducted at the staff level and involve officials from the U.S. State Department, the Department of Energy and other agencies tasked with addressing technical aspects of the U.S.-Iran agreement.

The negotiations are intended to lay the groundwork for a final accord addressing Iran's nuclear activities and the future of international sanctions imposed on Tehran, according to Rubio.

The U.S. and Iran signed a peace memorandum of understanding on June 18, which provides for 60 days of negotiations toward a final agreement on Iran's nuclear program and sanctions removal. The first round of negotiations was held in Switzerland on Sunday and Monday.

Iran's three main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan were bombed by the United States during the "12-day war" in June 2025. The sites have again been at the center of the conflict that erupted on Feb. 28 this year, with the United States and Israel launching strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets.

US, Iran to resume technical talks in Switzerland amid clashing remarks on nuclear inspections

US, Iran to resume technical talks in Switzerland amid clashing remarks on nuclear inspections

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into Tesla's certification that its new Cybercab meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

The probe, formally designated as an Audit Query, was opened on Sept. 3 and covers an estimated 1,000 Cybercab vehicles, according to an NHTSA investigation document made public on Friday. It will examine the process and technical data Tesla relied upon when certifying the Cybercab, as well as related issues. Tesla began commercial deployment of a small number of Cybercab vehicles in Austin, Texas, on Thursday and notified the agency that it had certified the vehicles as compliant with all applicable FMVSS. Tesla also told the NHTSA that it plans to gradually expand commercial deployment of the Cybercab to include additional vehicles and locations.

The vehicles lack permanently attached conventional manual controls, such as a brake pedal, gas pedal, steering wheel and mirrors, according to the NHTSA.

The agency said the inquiry will examine, among other issues, the extent to which Tesla's certification depended on determinations that certain FMVSS are inapplicable to the Cybercab.

In the United States, the NHTSA establishes vehicle performance requirements, while automakers must certify that their vehicles meet applicable standards before entering the U.S. market, subject to agency oversight to confirm compliance. The NHTSA said it conducts investigations when certified vehicles appear not to adhere to those requirements.

U.S. regulator opens probe into Tesla Cybercab self-certification