🔗 Share this article

Iran is prepared to reinitiate atomic negotiations with Washington provided that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat stated only diplomacy worked, and shared new appeals had come from intermediaries to restart discussions with the US government. He claimed Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran could not yet allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to access attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Difficult Course

Araghchi is navigating a difficult course since Iran does not want be seen to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen stronger militarily and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium on home soil that it will never give up" – the main reason of the impasse in the previous talks.

Prior Talks Suddenly Terminated

The previous five rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that ended with the US president claiming the facilities had been destroyed. Afterward, European countries used their right to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran maintains they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Tehran representatives stated they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was settled an local partnership with US participation could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could function on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Representatives asserted repeatedly they had reached agreement with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in some form if negotiations resume.

The US president in recent days stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran asserts diplomacy is not part of a show.

Political Standpoint

In his speech to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a controlling nation that misuses the notion of international law, Araghchi stated the 12-day war showed the clash could not be resolved by military means. He said the assaults started with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with complete American awareness and collaboration, making faith hard to restore.

Negotiations Continues the Primary Resolution

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the Western nations that had consistently tried to impose their will during the discussions. Negotiations can still be viable and continues the ultimate resolution to resolve disputes, but its requirements, guidelines and principles must be adhered to."

"If they address to the nation of Iran with the language of dignity and honor, they will obtain a response in the same approach."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and recovery, the foreign minister said he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We learned numerous insights from this engagement; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He stated: "We successfully passed this war. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if eliminated, will be restored; what is essential is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but failed to destroy. The Iranian people have grown stronger, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the country in the wake of this assault."