Tehran Says It May Resume US Nuclear Discussions if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Iran is willing to resume atomic talks with Washington as long as it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has announced.
Abbas Araghchi stated solely negotiations produced results, and revealed fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to reopen discussions with the US government. He asserted Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran could not yet authorize the global atomic watchdog to inspect attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Walking a Challenging Course
Araghchi is walking a challenging route since Iran wishes not to appear to be acting from a stance of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more powerful militarily and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the previous talks.
Previous Negotiations Unexpectedly Ended
The previous five rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that culminated with Donald Trump declaring the sites had been eliminated. Afterward, Western states employed their right to restore international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Perfect Agreement Suggested
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since local refinement would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been agreed in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Diplomats claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Situation
Iranian officials stated the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be resurrected in some form if talks resume.
Trump in recent days stated he had been getting signals that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but in private Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from the United States either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been criticized of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts diplomacy is not part of a show.
Diplomatic Stance
In his speech to the conference, intended to paint the US as a dominant force that misuses the concept of global regulations, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the conflict could not be resolved by military means. He stated the assaults began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and ended with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were carried out with complete American awareness and collaboration, making trust hard to rebuild.
Diplomacy Remains the Primary Resolution
Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly attempted to enforce their demands during the talks. Diplomacy can still be alive and stays the ultimate solution to settle disagreements, but its criteria, rules and principles must be followed."
"If they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the equivalent tone."
Repair and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the battle of recovery and recovery, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We learned multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the opponent."
He added: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to obliterate, stays intact. The installations and machinery, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but did not succeed to break. The nation of Iran have grown more powerful, more cohesive, and more backing of the government and the nation in the face of this assault."