Iran Declares It May Rejoin US Atomic Discussions if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Respect'
Iran is willing to reinitiate atomic talks with Washington on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has declared.
Abbas Araghchi said only diplomacy was effective, and disclosed recent overtures had come from go-betweens to restart discussions with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to permit the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Walking a Difficult Route
Araghchi is walking a difficult course since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be acting from a position of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more resilient militarily and mentally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the deadlock in the prior discussions.
Previous Negotiations Abruptly Terminated
The earlier sessions of negotiations between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that ended with the US president asserting the facilities had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states employed their privilege to reinstate international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Ideal Resolution Proposed
Tehran representatives stated they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was agreed an local partnership with US participation could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.
It had not been settled in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Officials claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".
Existing Status
Tehran representatives stated the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the offer could be resurrected in some form if negotiations reopen.
The US president last week stated he had been getting signals that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but privately Tehran representatives claim they are not yet receiving coherent offers from America either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.
Diplomatic Stance
In his speech to the forum, designed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of international law, the foreign minister said the fortnight-long engagement revealed the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the assaults started with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith hard to restore.
Diplomacy Remains the Ultimate Resolution
Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had consistently sought to dictate their desires during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be alive and stays the primary resolution to settle disputes, but its requirements, regulations and tenets must be followed."
"In case they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will receive a answer in the identical approach."
Repair and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of restoration and recovery, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been reestablished. We learned multiple understandings from this war; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He stated: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to eliminate, continues to exist. The sites and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but did not succeed to destroy. The nation of Iran have developed more resilient, more united, and more endorsing of the leadership and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."