Iran States It May Resume US Nuclear Talks if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Iran is ready to restart nuclear negotiations with the United States on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.
The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy was effective, and revealed recent overtures had come from intermediaries to reopen discussions with the US government. He said Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran had not yet reached a point to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to access struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.
Navigating a Difficult Path
Araghchi is navigating a complex route since Iran aims to avoid appear to be operating from a stance of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged more resilient defensively and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.
He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium domestically that it will never give up" – the key factor of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.
Prior Discussions Unexpectedly Ended
The prior phases of discussions between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that concluded with Donald Trump claiming the sites had been obliterated. Subsequently, EU nations used their privilege to reinstate international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been agreed in the talks that US nuclear scientists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Officials claimed three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the agreement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Present Position
Iranian officials declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be resurrected in some form if discussions reopen.
The American leader last week claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to restart talks, but confidentially Tehran representatives claim they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from Washington either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of inactivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran says diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Standpoint
In his speech to the conference, designed to paint the US as a dominant force that exploits the concept of international law, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict demonstrated the conflict could not be ended by armed force. He asserted the assaults started with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with full US knowledge and coordination, making faith hard to restore.
Diplomacy Stays the Ultimate Solution
The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted dialogue; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently sought to enforce their desires during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be viable and stays the final answer to resolve disputes, but its requirements, regulations and tenets must be followed."
"In case they speak to the Iranian people with the tone of respect and honor, they will receive a response in the same approach."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the struggle of recovery and recovery, the foreign minister said he was certain Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We learned multiple understandings from this engagement; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He added: "We effectively endured this war. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The installations and machinery, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is important is the determination of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have grown more powerful, more united, and more endorsing of the administration and the state in the wake of this assault."