🔗 Share this article

Iran is prepared to resume atomic discussions with Washington provided that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has announced.

Abbas Araghchi declared exclusively dialogue worked, and revealed fresh requests had come from intermediaries to resume talks with the American leadership. He asserted Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to allow the global atomic watchdog to inspect struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Walking a Challenging Route

Araghchi is navigating a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be acting from a situation of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged more powerful militarily and psychologically from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Previous Negotiations Abruptly Ended

The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that concluded with the US president claiming the locations had been obliterated. Following this, EU nations employed their right to reinstate international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a substantial consequence.

Magic Solution Suggested

Iranian officials said they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was settled an local partnership with American involvement could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been settled in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Representatives claimed repeatedly they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Current Position

Iranian officials stated the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems very probable the proposal could be reintroduced in some form if negotiations reopen.

The American leader last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but in private Iranian officials state they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from Washington either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Political Standpoint

In his address to the gathering, intended to portray the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister declared the two-week conflict showed the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the strikes began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and ended with an unconditional call for a truce.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were executed with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence challenging to restore.

Negotiations Stays the Primary Solution

The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had always sought to impose their desires during the talks. Diplomacy can still be active and continues the final solution to resolve disputes, but its criteria, rules and tenets must be followed."

"In case they address to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of respect and respect, they will receive a response in the same language."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is described by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister said he was assured Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been reestablished. We learned multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the opponent."

He stated: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and machinery, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is important is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to break. The nation of Iran have grown more powerful, more united, and more backing of the government and the nation in the wake of this invasion."