Tehran Says It May Rejoin US Nuclear Discussions if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is willing to restart nuclear talks with Washington as long as it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has announced.
Abbas Araghchi said only diplomacy was effective, and shared fresh requests had originated from intermediaries to resume talks with the Trump administration. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Navigating a Difficult Route
Araghchi is walking a difficult course since Iran does not want be seen to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen more resilient defensively and psychologically from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was talking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the impasse in the prior discussions.
Previous Negotiations Suddenly Concluded
The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that concluded with the American leader declaring the locations had been destroyed. Afterward, European countries exercised their privilege to restore international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iran's diplomats said they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was agreed an local partnership with US participation could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment 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 US nuclear scientists could function inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the deal to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Status
Iranian officials declared the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems very probable the offer could be reintroduced in some form if talks restart.
Trump recently said he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to restart talks, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from America either directly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the wake of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.
Diplomatic Standpoint
In his remarks to the conference, aimed to portray the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of worldwide standards, Araghchi said the two-week conflict showed the conflict could not be settled by armed force. He stated the strikes began with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with full US knowledge and coordination, making confidence hard to rebuild.
Dialogue Remains the Ultimate Resolution
Araghchi stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly sought to enforce their desires during the talks. Dialogue can still be active and remains the ultimate answer to address disputes, but its requirements, rules and fundamentals must be followed."
"If they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will get a answer in the equivalent language."
Repair and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister said he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We acquired multiple understandings from this war; we have identified our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the adversary."
He added: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to obliterate, continues to exist. The sites and machinery, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but were unable to destroy. The nation of Iran have developed more powerful, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."