Iran States It May Return to US Nuclear Discussions if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'

Iran is willing to resume nuclear negotiations with Washington as long as it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.

Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue worked, and revealed fresh requests had originated from mediators to resume talks with the American leadership. He claimed Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to allow the global atomic watchdog to inspect struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Navigating a Difficult Course

Araghchi is navigating a difficult course since Iran aims to avoid appear to be proceeding from a situation of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen more powerful militarily and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.

Prior Negotiations Abruptly Concluded

The prior phases of discussions between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the American leader asserting the sites had been destroyed. Following this, EU nations used their right to restore global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with US participation could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Officials asserted three times they had reached agreement with the US representative the US official only for the agreement to collapse due to "opponents in the US".

Current Status

Iran's diplomats stated the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the offer could be resurrected in various formats if negotiations resume.

Trump recently claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to restart talks, but privately Tehran representatives state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from Washington either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran says negotiations is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Position

In his address to the gathering, designed to depict the US as a dominant force that misuses the notion of international law, Araghchi said the two-week conflict revealed the clash could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the attacks began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were mounted with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making trust challenging to restore.

Dialogue Remains the Final Resolution

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly attempted to impose their will during the talks. Diplomacy can still be alive and remains the ultimate solution to settle disputes, but its criteria, guidelines and fundamentals must be adhered to."

"In case they talk to the Iranian people with the tone of respect and honor, they will get a answer in the equivalent language."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the struggle of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was confident Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We learned numerous insights from this war; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the adversary."

He added: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to obliterate, remains in place. The sites and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but were unable to break. The Iranian people have become more resilient, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the country in the face of this assault."