Trump says Iran must open itself to inspection

President Donald Trump said Friday he expects Iran to open itself to international inspection to verify it doesn't restart its nuclear program.

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Asked during a White House news conference if he would demand during expected talks with Iran that the International Atomic Energy Agency or some other organization be authorized to conduct inspections, Trump responded the Islamic republic would have to cooperate with the group or somebody that we respect, including ourselves.

Iran's top diplomat said the possibility of new negotiations with the United States on his country's nuclear program has been complicated by the American attack on three of the sites, which he conceded caused serious damage.

The US was one of the parties to the 2015 nuclear deal in which Iran agreed to limits on its uranium enrichment program in exchange for sanctions relief and other benefits.

That deal unraveled after US President Donald Trump pulled the US out unilaterally during his first term. Trump has suggested he is interested in new talks with Iran and said the two sides would meet next week.

In an interview on Iranian state television broadcast late Thursday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left open the possibility that his country would again enter talks on its nuclear program, but suggested it would not be anytime soon.