Iran Says It Could Return to US Nuclear Discussions provided that Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is prepared to resume nuclear discussions with the United States as long as it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has declared.
Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue worked, and revealed new appeals had originated from mediators to restart talks with the American leadership. He said Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Tehran was not yet able to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit struck enrichment centers for protective measures.
Navigating a Difficult Path
Araghchi is navigating a complex route since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be proceeding from a stance of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged stronger defensively and emotionally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Previous Talks Suddenly Concluded
The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that ended with Donald Trump asserting the sites had been obliterated. Following this, EU nations exercised their authority to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Iran's diplomats said they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been settled in the negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Officials asserted on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Status
Iran's diplomats said the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations reopen.
Trump in recent days claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to resume discussions, but privately Tehran representatives say they are not yet getting coherent offers from the United States either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a spectacle.
Political Position
In his speech to the conference, designed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the idea of international law, the foreign minister declared the two-week conflict revealed the conflict could not be resolved by armed force. He said the strikes commenced with a US demand for an total Iran submission and culminated with an unconditional call for a ceasefire.
Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were mounted with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making faith difficult to reestablish.
Dialogue Continues the Primary Answer
Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had always attempted to impose their desires during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the ultimate resolution to settle conflicts, but its criteria, rules and fundamentals must be followed."
"Provided that they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a response in the identical language."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this war; we have identified our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the adversary."
He stated: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to obliterate, stays intact. The installations and machinery, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the determination of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but failed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have grown more resilient, more united, and more backing of the leadership and the country in the face of this assault."