Tehran Says It Might Resume American Nuclear Talks if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is ready to reinitiate atomic negotiations with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.
Abbas Araghchi said only diplomacy was effective, and revealed recent overtures had been made by mediators to reopen negotiations with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.
Walking a Challenging Route
Araghchi is walking a difficult path since Iran does not want be perceived to be operating from a position of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and psychologically from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the prior discussions.
Prior Negotiations Abruptly Terminated
The previous five rounds of discussions between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that culminated with the American leader declaring the sites had been destroyed. Afterward, European countries employed their privilege to reimpose international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.
Ideal Resolution Offered
Tehran representatives stated they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an local partnership with US participation could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Officials asserted repeatedly they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the deal to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Situation
Iranian officials declared the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems very probable the proposal could be resurrected in some form if discussions resume.
The American leader in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats state they are not yet receiving clear proposals from Washington either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of passivity in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Stance
In his remarks to the gathering, designed to paint the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister declared the two-week conflict showed the clash could not be settled by military means. He asserted the attacks commenced with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an complete request for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with full US knowledge and coordination, making faith difficult to rebuild.
Negotiations Stays the Ultimate Resolution
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly sought to enforce their will during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the final answer to resolve disputes, but its criteria, regulations and fundamentals must be respected."
"If they talk to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and respect, they will receive a answer in the same tone."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is described by Tehran representatives as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We acquired multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He added: "We successfully passed this war. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to destroy, stays intact. The installations and machinery, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to destroy. The Iranian people have grown more resilient, more integrated, and more supportive of the administration and the country in the wake of this invasion."