Iran Says It May Resume American Nuclear Negotiations if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'

Iran is prepared to restart nuclear talks with Washington as long as it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat declared exclusively dialogue worked, and disclosed recent overtures had come from mediators to resume discussions with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for security reasons.

Walking a Challenging Path

Araghchi is walking a challenging path since Iran does not want be seen to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out stronger militarily and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium domestically that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Previous Talks Suddenly Ended

The earlier sessions of negotiations between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with Donald Trump claiming the sites had been destroyed. Following this, European countries used their right to restore international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Suggested

Iranian officials said they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.

It had not been decided in the talks that American atomic experts could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Representatives asserted on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the agreement to collapse due to "detractors in America".

Current Position

Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be resurrected in some form if negotiations resume.

The US president recently stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to restart talks, but confidentially Tehran representatives state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either directly or from key regional mediators, 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 aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran states negotiations is not part of a spectacle.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his remarks to the gathering, aimed to paint the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister declared the two-week conflict showed the clash could not be resolved by armed force. He asserted the attacks commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making confidence hard to restore.

Negotiations Remains the Ultimate Answer

Araghchi stated: "Tehran was not the one that had fled negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had always attempted to dictate their demands during the discussions. Negotiations can still be active and continues the primary answer to resolve conflicts, but its requirements, rules and principles must be adhered to."

"In case they address to the nation of Iran with the language of dignity and honor, they will receive a response in the identical language."

Restoration and Reconstruction

In what is described by Iranian officials as the struggle of repair and recovery, Araghchi stated he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We acquired many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He added: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to destroy, remains in place. The facilities and equipment, if destroyed, will be restored; what is essential is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to shatter. The Iranian people have grown more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the administration and the country in the aftermath of this invasion."