Tehran Says It Might Return to US Nuclear Discussions provided that Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is ready to resume nuclear negotiations with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.
The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and shared fresh requests had been made by mediators to resume discussions with the US government. He said Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to access attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Walking a Difficult Route
Araghchi is treading a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid appear to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.
He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to process nuclear material within its borders that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the earlier negotiations.
Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Ended
The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that ended with the US president claiming the facilities had been eliminated. Afterward, Western states employed their right to restore global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iranian officials said they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement 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 enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been settled in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Diplomats stated on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".
Present Status
Iranian officials declared the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be revived in various formats if negotiations reopen.
The US president last week said he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from the United States either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of inactivity in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran says negotiations is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Position
In his remarks to the gathering, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the notion of global regulations, Araghchi stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the dispute could not be settled by military means. He asserted the attacks began with a US demand for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with total Washington understanding and coordination, making trust hard to restore.
Negotiations Continues the Ultimate Solution
Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the European states that had consistently attempted to enforce their desires during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be viable and remains the primary answer to settle disagreements, but its requirements, rules and tenets must be adhered to."
"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will get a response in the identical language."
Repair and Reconstruction
In what is described by Iran's diplomats as the conflict of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister claimed he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We gained many lessons from this conflict; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to destroy, remains in place. The installations and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is important is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to shatter. The Iranian people have developed more powerful, more cohesive, and more supportive of the administration and the nation in the aftermath of this assault."