Iran Says It Could Return to US Nuclear Discussions if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Iran is willing to restart atomic talks with the United States as long as it is approached with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.
The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and disclosed new appeals had come from mediators to reopen discussions with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Tehran could not yet authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.
Walking a Challenging Course
Araghchi is navigating a challenging route since Iran does not want be perceived to be operating from a situation of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen stronger militarily and emotionally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Negotiations Unexpectedly Terminated
The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader asserting the facilities had been obliterated. Following this, European countries used their privilege to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Magic Solution Suggested
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since local refinement would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been decided in the talks that American atomic experts could work inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated three times they had achieved a deal with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the agreement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Current Status
Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be resurrected in various formats if talks reopen.
The US president recently stated he had been getting signals that Iran desired to restart talks, but confidentially Tehran representatives state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from the United States either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of inactivity in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Stance
In his speech to the forum, aimed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the two-week conflict demonstrated the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the assaults began with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making trust difficult to restore.
Dialogue Continues the Ultimate Solution
Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had abandoned diplomacy; it was America and the western countries that had repeatedly sought to enforce their will during the discussions. Dialogue can still be alive and stays the ultimate solution to address disputes, but its standards, guidelines and fundamentals must be respected."
"Provided that they talk to the nation of Iran with the approach of dignity and honor, they will receive a reply in the same approach."
Repair and Rebuilding
In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the battle of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi claimed he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We acquired multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."
He continued: "We managed to survive this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to obliterate, stays intact. The facilities and machinery, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but did not succeed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more integrated, and more backing of the leadership and the nation in the aftermath of this attack."