Iran Says It Might Resume American Atomic Discussions if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Tehran is willing to restart nuclear negotiations with Washington as long as it is approached with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.
The Iranian diplomat stated exclusively dialogue produced results, and shared fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to reopen discussions with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran was not yet able to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns.
Navigating a Complex Path
Araghchi is treading a challenging path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be proceeding from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen stronger in military terms and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material on home soil that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Negotiations Suddenly Concluded
The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with Donald Trump declaring the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, EU nations employed their right to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Officials asserted on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the arrangement to collapse due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Status
Iran's diplomats said the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be revived in various formats if negotiations resume.
Trump last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to resume discussions, but privately Tehran representatives claim they are not yet getting coherent offers from America either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of non-responsiveness in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a show.
Political Stance
In his speech to the forum, intended to portray the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of worldwide standards, the foreign minister stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the conflict could not be resolved by military means. He stated the attacks started with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an absolute demand for a truce.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were mounted with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith hard to rebuild.
Negotiations Remains the Final Resolution
The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the Western nations that had always tried to impose their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and remains the final resolution to resolve disputes, but its criteria, rules and principles must be respected."
"In case they address to the Iranian people with the tone of respect and honor, they will receive a answer in the equivalent tone."
Recovery and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the struggle of restoration and rebuilding, the foreign minister said he was certain Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."
He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to destroy, remains in place. The installations and machinery, 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 break. The Iranian people have become more powerful, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the nation in the face of this invasion."