Tehran Says It May Return to US Atomic Talks if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is willing to restart atomic talks with Washington as long as it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
Abbas Araghchi declared solely negotiations worked, and revealed fresh requests had been made by go-betweens to resume negotiations with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for protective measures.
Walking a Difficult Course
The foreign minister is walking a complex course since Iran does not want appear to be operating from a position of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged more powerful militarily and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Earlier Negotiations Abruptly Terminated
The earlier sessions of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the US president asserting the locations had been eliminated. Following this, EU nations used their authority to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Officials asserted on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with the US representative Steve Witkoff only for the agreement to collapse due to "detractors in America".
Current Status
Iranian officials stated the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the proposal could be resurrected in some form if talks resume.
The American leader in recent days stated he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to resume discussions, but in private Tehran representatives claim they are not yet getting clear proposals from the United States either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts negotiations is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Stance
In his speech to the conference, designed to paint the US as a controlling nation that exploits the idea of international law, Araghchi said the two-week conflict revealed the conflict could not be settled by combat operations. He said the attacks began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making confidence challenging to restore.
Dialogue Stays the Final Resolution
Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly sought to impose their desires during the talks. Negotiations can still be alive and stays the primary solution to resolve conflicts, but its criteria, regulations and tenets must be followed."
"If they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will receive a answer in the same approach."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the struggle of recovery and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We learned many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He added: "We successfully passed this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the will of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."