Iran Says It Could Return to American Nuclear Talks provided that Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Iran is prepared to restart nuclear discussions with Washington provided that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.
The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue worked, and disclosed new appeals had originated from mediators to reopen discussions with the American leadership. He asserted Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to permit the global atomic watchdog to inspect attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Walking a Difficult Path
Araghchi is treading a complex course since Iran wishes not to appear to be operating from a stance of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out stronger militarily and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium within its borders that it will never give up" β the primary cause of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.
Earlier Negotiations Unexpectedly Terminated
The earlier sessions of negotiations between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with the US president claiming the sites had been obliterated. Following this, Western states exercised their authority to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.
Magic Solution Suggested
Tehran representatives said they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an local partnership with American involvement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.
It had not been settled in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Representatives asserted on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".
Present Situation
Iranian officials stated the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the offer could be reintroduced in some form if negotiations reopen.
Trump recently claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to resume discussions, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet getting coherent offers from the United States either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of passivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran states diplomacy is not part of a show.
Negotiating Position
In his speech to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict revealed the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He asserted the strikes began with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were mounted with complete American awareness and collaboration, making faith difficult to reestablish.
Dialogue Continues the Primary Answer
The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently tried to impose their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be active and stays the final resolution to resolve disputes, but its standards, regulations and principles must be followed."
"If they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will get a response in the same language."
Restoration and Rebuilding
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the struggle of recovery and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained many lessons from this war; we have come to know our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He added: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and gear, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but failed to break. The Iranian people have become stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the administration and the country in the wake of this invasion."