Iran war day 117: Nuclear inspections dispute as US Senate curbs war powers

What Happened

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei denied US claims that Tehran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to return, stating there are no plans for visits or inspections and that dealings with the watchdog would follow existing procedures, safeguards obligations, parliamentary legislation, and decisions by the Supreme National Security Council. The denial came after US President Donald Trump claimed Iran had accepted the 'highest level' of monitoring under the 60-day negotiation framework. Simultaneously, General Ahmad Reza Pourdastan, head of Iran’s Army Strategic Studies and Research Center, said Iran has adopted an offensive doctrine that includes preemptive operations, warning it could 'severely surprise the enemy' if national interests required it, and that much of the country’s military capability remains unused. In Washington, the US Senate voted 50-48 to pass a resolution requiring congressional approval for any further US military action against Iran, with Republicans Bill Cassidy, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, and Rand Paul joining nearly all Democrats. President Trump is expected to veto the measure. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the US 'very naive' for believing Iran would abandon its nuclear program and hinted Israel may act independently, saying 'no circumstances' could force Israel to follow the dictates of a friend. Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, touring Gulf states, said Iran would not be allowed to charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz under a final deal, while Qatar’s Prime Minister said LNG production could return to normal within weeks after a March Iranian drone attack on the Ras Laffan facility.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The dueling claims over nuclear inspections and Iran’s declared offensive shift underscore the fragility of the 60-day negotiation framework, raising the risk that talks could collapse and trigger renewed military escalation. The US Senate’s bipartisan war powers resolution reflects deep congressional unease over presidential authority to strike Iran, while Israeli threats of unilateral action add another unpredictable dimension. The unresolved IAEA access question and the Strait of Hormuz toll dispute are critical flashpoints that could determine whether a comprehensive deal is achievable or whether the interim arrangement simply 'runs out the clock.'

Watch For

The fate of the Senate war powers resolution after an expected presidential veto; any IAEA statement on inspection access; the expiration of the 60-day negotiation window; any Israeli military action against Iran or Iranian assets; Rubio’s Gulf tour outcomes and whether Gulf states endorse the US approach; and the resumption of Qatari LNG production as a gauge of regional stability.