Iran Declares It Might Resume US Atomic Talks if Treated with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is willing to resume nuclear negotiations with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.
Abbas Araghchi declared exclusively dialogue was effective, and disclosed fresh requests had originated from mediators to restart negotiations with the American leadership. He claimed Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.
Walking a Challenging Path
The foreign minister is walking a challenging course since Iran does not want appear to be acting from a position of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen more powerful militarily and mentally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.
Earlier Negotiations Abruptly Ended
The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that concluded with Donald Trump claiming the locations had been eliminated. Subsequently, EU nations used their privilege to reinstate international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Tehran representatives stated they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was decided an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the talks that US nuclear scientists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives stated three times they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to collapse due to "opponents in the US".
Current Situation
Iranian officials declared the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations reopen.
Trump in recent days said he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to resume discussions, but in private Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from the United States either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran states diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Stance
In his speech to the conference, designed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister said the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He said the assaults began with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and culminated with an unconditional call for a ceasefire.
Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making confidence challenging to reestablish.
Negotiations Remains the Primary Resolution
The foreign minister declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had repeatedly tried to dictate their desires during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the final answer to settle disagreements, but its standards, regulations and fundamentals must be adhered to."
"If they talk to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will receive a response in the equivalent language."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the conflict of restoration and recovery, Araghchi claimed 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 numerous insights from this war; we have identified our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."
He added: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to obliterate, stays intact. The facilities and equipment, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but did not succeed to break. The nation of Iran have become more resilient, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the wake of this attack."