Iran Declares It May Rejoin US Nuclear Discussions if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is ready to reinitiate nuclear talks with the United States on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.
The Iranian diplomat stated exclusively dialogue worked, and shared fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to restart negotiations with the US government. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.
Walking a Difficult Path
The foreign minister is navigating a difficult route since Iran does not want be seen to be proceeding from a situation of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Prior Negotiations Suddenly Terminated
The prior phases of discussions between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that culminated with the US president claiming the facilities had been obliterated. Afterward, Western states employed their privilege to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Offered
Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with US participation could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been settled in the discussions that American atomic experts could work on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with the US representative the American negotiator only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".
Current Status
Iran's diplomats declared the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be revived in some form if discussions resume.
Trump in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but privately Tehran representatives state they are not yet receiving clear proposals from Washington either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been charged of passivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran states dialogue is not part of a performance.
Political Position
In his remarks to the conference, aimed to paint the US as a dominant force that abuses the idea of international law, the foreign minister stated the two-week conflict revealed the dispute could not be ended by armed force. He said the attacks began with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making faith hard to reestablish.
Dialogue Remains the Final Resolution
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned dialogue; it was America and the western countries that had repeatedly tried to enforce their desires during the discussions. Negotiations can still be alive and stays the ultimate solution to settle disagreements, but its requirements, rules and tenets must be adhered to."
"In case they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will get a answer in the same approach."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is described by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We learned multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to obliterate, continues to exist. The facilities and machinery, if damaged, will be restored; what is essential is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more integrated, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the wake of this attack."