Iran Declares It May Return to US Atomic Discussions provided that Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Tehran is prepared to resume nuclear negotiations with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.
The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by go-betweens to reopen talks with the US government. He asserted Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran had not yet reached a point to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to access bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.
Navigating a Challenging Route
Araghchi is walking a complex path since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be acting from a position of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and psychologically from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Prior Negotiations Abruptly Ended
The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that concluded with the US president asserting the sites had been destroyed. Afterward, European countries employed their privilege to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a substantial consequence.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iranian officials said they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been decided in the discussions that American atomic experts could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Diplomats claimed on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with the US representative Steve Witkoff only for the deal to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Situation
Iranian officials declared the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be revived in some form if negotiations resume.
Trump in recent days stated he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials say they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from America 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 criticized of non-responsiveness in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says dialogue is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Position
In his speech to the conference, designed to depict the US as a controlling nation that abuses the concept of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the clash could not be ended by military means. He said the strikes began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with full US knowledge and collaboration, making confidence hard to rebuild.
Negotiations Stays the Primary Solution
Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had repeatedly attempted to enforce their will during the talks. Dialogue can still be viable and remains the final resolution to resolve conflicts, but its requirements, regulations and fundamentals must be followed."
"Provided that they speak to the Iranian people with the approach of respect and honor, they will receive a response in the equivalent approach."
Recovery and Reconstruction
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and recovery, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We learned multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He continued: "We effectively endured this war. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to obliterate, continues to exist. The installations and gear, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but were unable to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have grown more powerful, more united, and more endorsing of the administration and the country in the wake of this attack."