Tehran Declares It Could Return to American Nuclear Negotiations provided that Treated with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is ready to reinitiate atomic discussions with Washington on condition that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.
The Iranian diplomat stated exclusively dialogue produced results, and disclosed fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to restart discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Tehran could not yet authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.
Walking a Complex Path
Araghchi is walking a difficult path since Iran does not want appear to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more powerful militarily and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material domestically that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Talks Unexpectedly Concluded
The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that ended with Donald Trump asserting the locations had been eliminated. Afterward, Western states used their right to restore international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was decided an local partnership with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had achieved a deal with the US representative Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".
Current Situation
Iran's diplomats stated the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the offer could be revived in some form if talks reopen.
The American leader in recent days said he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to restart talks, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet getting coherent offers from the United States either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been charged of passivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Position
In his remarks to the forum, aimed to portray the US as a dominant force that misuses the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister said the fortnight-long engagement showed the dispute could not be resolved by military means. He stated the strikes started with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were mounted with complete American awareness and cooperation, making trust difficult to reestablish.
Diplomacy Continues the Primary Answer
Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had repeatedly attempted to dictate their desires during the talks. Negotiations can still be active and continues the primary answer to resolve conflicts, but its criteria, guidelines and fundamentals must be adhered to."
"If they talk to the nation of Iran with the language of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the equivalent tone."
Repair and Recovery
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was assured Iran's military capacities "are much stronger than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We gained numerous insights from this conflict; we have identified our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He continued: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to obliterate, continues to exist. The facilities and equipment, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is important is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but were unable to shatter. The nation of Iran have grown stronger, more integrated, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the face of this attack."