Iran Says It May Rejoin American Nuclear Talks if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is ready to resume atomic talks with Washington provided that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.
Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy produced results, and revealed recent overtures had come from go-betweens to resume talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Walking a Difficult Path
Araghchi is treading a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid appear to be acting from a position of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen more powerful defensively and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the prior discussions.
Prior Talks Suddenly Ended
The earlier sessions of discussions between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that culminated with the American leader asserting the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states employed their authority to reimpose international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Magic Solution Offered
Tehran representatives stated they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with US participation could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been agreed in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated three times they had secured an understanding with the US representative Steve Witkoff only for the agreement to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".
Present Status
Tehran representatives declared the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be resurrected in some form if discussions reopen.
The US president last week stated he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of passivity in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran states negotiations is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Standpoint
In his speech to the conference, aimed to paint the US as a dominant force that abuses the notion of international law, Araghchi said the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be ended by armed force. He asserted the strikes began with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were carried out with full US knowledge and coordination, making confidence challenging to restore.
Dialogue Continues the Primary Answer
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently sought to dictate their desires during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be active and continues the final resolution to address conflicts, but its standards, guidelines and fundamentals must be followed."
"Provided that they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will obtain a answer in the identical tone."
Repair and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We gained numerous insights from this engagement; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."
He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and gear, if destroyed, will be restored; what is essential is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."