Tehran Says It May Resume US Nuclear Discussions if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Respect'
Iran is ready to resume atomic discussions with Washington provided that it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.
Abbas Araghchi said solely negotiations worked, and revealed recent overtures had come from mediators to restart negotiations with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran was not yet able to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to inspect struck enrichment centers for security reasons.
Walking a Challenging Route
Araghchi is treading a difficult course since Iran does not want appear to be acting from a position of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out stronger in military terms and mentally from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.
He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium on home soil that it will never give up" – the key factor of the impasse in the prior discussions.
Prior Discussions Abruptly Ended
The previous five rounds of negotiations between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that culminated with the US president claiming the locations had been eliminated. Following this, European countries exercised their right to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been agreed in the negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could work inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Officials asserted repeatedly they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".
Existing Position
Tehran representatives stated the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be revived in various formats if discussions resume.
The US president in recent days stated he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving coherent offers from America either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of inactivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.
Negotiating Stance
In his remarks to the conference, intended to portray the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of global regulations, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict revealed the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the assaults began with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an unconditional call for a truce.
Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were executed with full US knowledge and collaboration, making trust challenging to restore.
Negotiations Continues the Final Solution
The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had fled diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently tried to impose their demands during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be viable and continues the primary resolution to address conflicts, but its criteria, guidelines and tenets must be followed."
"If they talk to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will get a answer in the same tone."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is described by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of repair and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was assured Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We acquired multiple understandings from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He added: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and machinery, if damaged, will be restored; what is crucial is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more integrated, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."