Iran States It May Return to American Nuclear Discussions if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Iran is prepared to resume nuclear talks with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has declared.
The Iranian diplomat declared exclusively dialogue was effective, and revealed new appeals had originated from mediators to reopen discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.
Navigating a Complex Course
Araghchi is treading a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be proceeding from a position of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen more powerful in military terms and emotionally from the coordinated strike on its nuclear sites in June.
He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the prior discussions.
Prior Negotiations Suddenly Terminated
The previous five rounds of negotiations between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that ended with Donald Trump asserting the facilities had been destroyed. Following this, European countries used their right to restore global restrictions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Magic Solution Proposed
Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been decided in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could operate inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Officials asserted three times they had achieved a deal with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Status
Iran's diplomats stated the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be revived in some form if talks resume.
The American leader last week stated he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to resume discussions, but in private Iran's diplomats say they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from the United States either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been charged of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Standpoint
In his speech to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the concept of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the conflict could not be ended by military means. He stated the assaults began with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and culminated with an absolute demand for a truce.
Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making confidence hard to rebuild.
Diplomacy Remains the Primary Resolution
The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had repeatedly sought to enforce their demands during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be active and remains the ultimate answer to settle disagreements, but its criteria, rules and fundamentals must be respected."
"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will obtain a response in the equivalent tone."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is described by Iran's diplomats as the battle of restoration and recovery, the foreign minister stated he was assured Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We gained many lessons from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."
He continued: "We effectively endured this war. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to eliminate, continues to exist. The installations and machinery, if damaged, will be restored; what is crucial is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they targeted, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have grown stronger, more united, and more backing of the government and the nation in the aftermath of this attack."