Tehran States It Might Resume American Nuclear Negotiations if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is ready to resume atomic discussions with Washington on condition that it is handled with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's top diplomat has stated.
Abbas Araghchi declared only diplomacy produced results, and revealed fresh requests had been made by go-betweens to resume negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Walking a Complex Path
The foreign minister is navigating a difficult route since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack 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 refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Previous Talks Unexpectedly Terminated
The previous five rounds of negotiations between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that culminated with Donald Trump declaring the facilities had been eliminated. Following this, European countries employed their authority to reinstate international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Magic Solution Suggested
Iran's diplomats said they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Officials claimed repeatedly they had reached agreement with the US representative the US official only for the agreement to collapse due to "detractors in America".
Existing Status
Iranian officials said the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the offer could be revived in some form if discussions resume.
Trump in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials claim they are not yet receiving clear proposals from America either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been charged of non-responsiveness in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran says diplomacy is not part of a spectacle.
Diplomatic Standpoint
In his remarks to the conference, designed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi said the two-week conflict showed the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the strikes began with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were mounted with full US knowledge and coordination, making confidence difficult to restore.
Negotiations Stays the Ultimate Solution
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly sought to dictate their will during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be viable and remains the primary solution to settle conflicts, but its criteria, rules and fundamentals must be adhered to."
"If they talk to the Iranian people with the approach of respect and respect, they will receive a answer in the equivalent tone."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was assured Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We acquired many lessons from this war; we have identified our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the adversary."
He added: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and equipment, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but failed to destroy. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."