🔗 Share this article

Tehran is willing to restart nuclear discussions with the United States on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat stated exclusively dialogue was effective, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by intermediaries to resume discussions with the American leadership. He claimed Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to inspect bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns.

Navigating a Challenging Path

The foreign minister is navigating a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient militarily and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.

He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium within its borders that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.

Prior Discussions Unexpectedly Terminated

The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that concluded with the American leader asserting the facilities had been obliterated. Subsequently, European countries exercised their authority to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Offered

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was agreed an local partnership with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the agreement to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".

Existing Status

Iran's diplomats declared the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be reintroduced in various formats if discussions restart.

The US president last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to restart talks, but confidentially Iran's diplomats say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from the United States either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states negotiations is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his speech to the gathering, intended to portray the US as a controlling nation that abuses the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi said the fortnight-long engagement revealed the dispute could not be resolved by armed force. He asserted the assaults began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a ceasefire.

Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were executed with complete American awareness and collaboration, making confidence difficult to restore.

Negotiations Remains the Ultimate Answer

Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had always sought to impose their desires during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the final answer to settle disputes, but its standards, rules and principles must be followed."

"If they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and honor, they will receive a reply in the same tone."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is described by Tehran representatives as the struggle of repair and recovery, the foreign minister said he was certain Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been reestablished. We learned many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He added: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and equipment, if destroyed, will be restored; what is important is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this attack."