Iran Declares It Could Resume American Atomic Discussions if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Tehran is ready to reinitiate nuclear talks with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.
Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue produced results, and shared recent overtures had originated from mediators to restart talks with the Trump administration. He said Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Navigating a Complex Path
The foreign minister is navigating a difficult course since Iran does not want be perceived to be acting from a stance of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged more powerful defensively and mentally from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.
He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Negotiations Unexpectedly Terminated
The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the US president claiming the sites had been eliminated. Subsequently, EU nations employed their privilege to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with US participation could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could operate inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Officials stated three times they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the agreement to collapse due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Situation
Iran's diplomats said the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be revived in various formats if talks restart.
Trump last week claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but confidentially Iran's diplomats state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from the United States either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Position
In his remarks to the forum, aimed to paint the US as a dominant force that abuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister stated the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be settled by armed force. He stated the attacks started with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were mounted with total Washington understanding and coordination, making confidence challenging to restore.
Diplomacy Stays the Primary Solution
The foreign minister declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had always tried to impose their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be active and stays the primary answer to address conflicts, but its criteria, guidelines and tenets must be followed."
"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the language of dignity and honor, they will obtain a reply in the same tone."
Recovery and Recovery
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and recovery, Araghchi claimed he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We gained many lessons from this conflict; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."
He stated: "We successfully passed this war. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to obliterate, stays intact. The installations and machinery, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is important is the determination of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they targeted, but were unable to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more united, and more backing of the government and the state in the face of this attack."