US Israel Iran War Latest Update: Iran has strongly denied US claims that its released frozen money would have to be used for buying certain products, such as American farm goods. Iranian officials said the country alone will decide how to spend the money and that no other country will set conditions or limits.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said that Iran would use the recently released assets in a way that best benefits the country. He said, “Regarding Iran’s released assets, we will make decisions in whatever way best serves the country’s interests. There are no restrictions in this regard.”
US-Iran Talks Show Signs of Progress
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance expressed optimism about the ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran. According to Vance, recent discussions had created a good foundation for a successful final deal that could bring an end to the war, which began in late February.
His comments came after a lengthy round of talks with Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. The discussions were aimed at establishing a lasting settlement and preventing further escalation between the two countries.
Trump Says Iran Open to Extensive Inspections
US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran had shown willingness to accept broad weapons inspections in order to demonstrate what he described as nuclear honesty and greater transparency regarding its nuclear activities. Trump made the statement on Truth Social after the latest round of negotiations held in Switzerland.
According to the US president, the inspections would help ensure that Iran does not move toward developing nuclear weapons.
JD Vance Describes Swiss Talks as Productive
Vice President Vance described the latest meeting in Switzerland as constructive. He said the negotiations had laid “a very good foundation” for reaching a comprehensive agreement between Washington and Tehran.
He added that both sides had discussed regional stability and mechanisms to oversee Iran’s nuclear programme. Vance also stated that Tehran had agreed to allow international nuclear inspectors into the country to help prevent the development of atomic weapons.
Iran Rejects Claims of New Nuclear Commitments
Despite the US claims, Iranian officials denied making any fresh commitments regarding international monitoring. Tehran pushed back against suggestions that it had accepted additional obligations beyond previous arrangements. At the same time, President Trump stressed that stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon was more important than any economic costs that could arise from a prolonged conflict.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Begins Recovering
Commercial shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has started to increase, according to MarineTraffic data. However, vessel movements remain significantly below the levels seen before the outbreak of war.
The improvement comes after Iran and the United States agreed to establish a direct communication hotline for the strategic waterway. Iran’s chief negotiator said the measure was intended to “prevent and resolve any misunderstandings” with countries whose ships pass through the narrow chokepoint.
Fresh Israel-Lebanon Talks Under US Mediation
The United States is also preparing to mediate another round of negotiations aimed at ending deadly clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Hezbollah, which is not participating in the discussions, has strongly criticized the talks. A US official said Washington has created a “monitoring mechanism” to oversee the ceasefire, as repeated violations have threatened to undermine wider negotiations involving Iran.
Nuclear Issue Remains Central to Diplomacy
While US officials continue to highlight progress on nuclear oversight, Iran maintains that no new promises have been made. Nevertheless, both countries are continuing diplomatic efforts as they seek a broader agreement that could ease tensions, restore stability in the region, and prevent further escalation of the conflict.
