Tehran States It Could Rejoin American Nuclear Talks if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is willing to resume atomic talks with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has declared.
Abbas Araghchi declared solely negotiations produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by intermediaries to reopen negotiations with the American leadership. He claimed Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to authorize the global atomic watchdog to access bombed nuclear sites for security reasons.
Navigating a Challenging Course
Araghchi is navigating a challenging path since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be acting from a position of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out stronger in military terms and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to process nuclear material on home soil that it will never give up" β the key factor of the stalemate in the prior discussions.
Earlier Discussions Unexpectedly Ended
The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that concluded with the US president claiming the facilities had been eliminated. Subsequently, Western states employed their authority to restore international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Tehran representatives said they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in previous talks, when it was decided an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since local refinement would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been agreed in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Officials claimed on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with the US representative the American negotiator only for the deal to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".
Existing Situation
Tehran representatives declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in various formats if discussions reopen.
The American leader in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to restart talks, but in private Tehran representatives state they are not yet receiving coherent offers from the United States either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of inactivity in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a spectacle.
Negotiating Position
In his remarks to the gathering, aimed to paint the US as a dominant force that exploits the concept of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be settled by combat operations. He said the strikes began with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with complete American awareness and coordination, making confidence difficult to reestablish.
Negotiations Remains the Final Answer
The foreign minister declared: "It was not Iran that had fled dialogue; it was America and the Western nations that had consistently attempted to enforce their desires during the talks. Negotiations can still be active and stays the primary resolution to resolve disagreements, but its criteria, regulations and tenets must be adhered to."
"Provided that they speak to the Iranian people with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a reply in the identical tone."
Repair and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was confident Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We acquired many lessons from this war; we have identified our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the adversary."
He continued: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to destroy, remains in place. The installations and equipment, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is important is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but did not succeed to destroy. The Iranian people have developed stronger, more integrated, and more supportive of the administration and the nation in the face of this attack."