Tehran Declares It Could Resume US Nuclear Talks if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Tehran is prepared to reinitiate nuclear discussions with the United States provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.
Abbas Araghchi said only diplomacy worked, and shared fresh requests had come from mediators to reopen talks with the US government. He claimed Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran had not yet reached a point to permit the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Navigating a Complex Path
The foreign minister is walking a challenging course since Iran aims to avoid appear to be operating from a stance of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged more powerful militarily and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Prior Negotiations Abruptly Concluded
The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that concluded with Donald Trump asserting the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, European countries used their privilege to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Tehran representatives said they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been decided in the negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".
Present Situation
Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be resurrected in various formats if discussions reopen.
The American leader last week said he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but confidentially Tehran representatives claim they are not yet receiving clear proposals from the United States either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Position
In his address to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a dominant force that abuses the notion of international law, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the dispute could not be resolved by armed force. He asserted the assaults began with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an absolute demand for a truce.
Iran is assured the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with complete American awareness and coordination, making faith difficult to rebuild.
Negotiations Stays the Final Resolution
The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was America and the European states that had consistently tried to dictate their desires during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be alive and stays the final answer to settle disputes, but its standards, guidelines and tenets must be adhered to."
"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will get a reply in the same language."
Repair and Rebuilding
In what is portrayed by Tehran representatives as the conflict of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi claimed he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired multiple understandings from this war; we have discovered our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."
He added: "We managed to survive this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to eliminate, continues to exist. The facilities and machinery, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the determination of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but were unable to break. The nation of Iran have grown more powerful, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the country in the aftermath of this assault."