Iran Declares It Might Resume US Atomic Negotiations provided that Approached with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Tehran is willing to reinitiate nuclear negotiations with Washington provided that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.
Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy produced results, and revealed new appeals had been made by intermediaries to restart negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.
Walking a Complex Route
Araghchi is walking a challenging course since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be operating from a stance of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more resilient defensively and mentally from the coordinated strike on its nuclear sites in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Concluded
The previous five rounds of discussions between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that concluded with the US president declaring the locations had been obliterated. Following this, European countries exercised their authority to reimpose international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with US participation could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been settled in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Officials asserted on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with the US representative the American negotiator only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".
Current Status
Iran's diplomats said the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be resurrected in various formats if negotiations restart.
The American leader last week stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but in private Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving coherent offers from the United States either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran states dialogue is not part of a performance.
Political Stance
In his remarks to the gathering, intended to depict the US as a controlling nation that exploits the notion of global regulations, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict showed the conflict could not be settled by armed force. He stated the strikes commenced with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were mounted with full US knowledge and coordination, making confidence hard to rebuild.
Diplomacy Remains the Ultimate Solution
Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had always sought to impose their demands during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be active and stays the final answer to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, rules and fundamentals must be respected."
"Provided that they address to the nation of Iran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a response in the same language."
Restoration and Rebuilding
In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."
He continued: "We managed to survive this war. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and gear, if destroyed, will be restored; what is crucial is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they targeted, but were unable to destroy. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more united, and more backing of the administration and the country in the aftermath of this invasion."