Iran Says It Might Return to US Atomic Negotiations provided that Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'

Tehran is ready to restart atomic negotiations with Washington on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy produced results, and revealed new appeals had originated from go-betweens to restart talks with the American leadership. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to permit the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Difficult Path

The foreign minister is treading a complex path since Iran does not want appear to be proceeding from a position of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out more resilient militarily and mentally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the deadlock in the earlier negotiations.

Earlier Talks Abruptly Terminated

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that ended with Donald Trump declaring the locations had been obliterated. Following this, EU nations used their authority to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated three times they had secured an understanding with the US representative the US official only for the agreement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".

Current Status

Iran's diplomats said the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be resurrected in some form if discussions reopen.

The American leader in recent days said he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to restart talks, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from Washington either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of inactivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran says dialogue is not part of a show.

Negotiating Position

In his address to the forum, designed to paint the US as a controlling nation that misuses the notion of international law, the foreign minister stated the fortnight-long engagement showed the clash could not be ended by armed force. He stated the assaults began with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a truce.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith challenging to restore.

Diplomacy Continues the Primary Resolution

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned diplomacy; it was the United States and the European states that had always tried to enforce their will during the talks. Dialogue can still be active and stays the primary answer to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, regulations and principles must be adhered to."

"If they address to the Iranian people with the language of respect and respect, they will receive a reply in the same approach."

Restoration and Reconstruction

In what is portrayed by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's military capacities "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We gained many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the adversary."

He stated: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if damaged, will be restored; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but did not succeed to break. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more cohesive, and more backing of the government and the state in the aftermath of this attack."