🔗 Share this article

Iran is ready to restart atomic negotiations with the United States provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has declared.

Abbas Araghchi declared only diplomacy worked, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from mediators to reopen discussions with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns.

Navigating a Complex Path

The foreign minister is navigating a complex path since Iran wishes not to be seen to be proceeding from a stance of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient defensively and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.

He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Previous Discussions Abruptly Terminated

The earlier sessions of negotiations between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that ended with the American leader asserting the locations had been destroyed. Following this, Western states employed their authority to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Proposed

Iranian officials said they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with US participation could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated three times they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Present Status

Iran's diplomats said the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the offer could be resurrected in some form if negotiations reopen.

The American leader recently said he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to resume discussions, but confidentially Iranian officials state they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from Washington either directly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran states dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Political Stance

In his remarks to the gathering, intended to depict the US as a dominant force that misuses the idea of international law, the foreign minister declared the 12-day war showed the clash could not be ended by armed force. He said the attacks commenced with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith difficult to reestablish.

Negotiations Continues the Primary Resolution

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had fled dialogue; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly tried to dictate their demands during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be viable and remains the ultimate solution to resolve disputes, but its requirements, regulations and principles must be adhered to."

"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a response in the equivalent tone."

Repair and Recovery

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was certain Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We acquired many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is important is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but did not succeed to shatter. The Iranian people have grown more powerful, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this attack."