🔗 Share this article

Tehran is prepared to resume atomic negotiations with the United States provided that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat stated only diplomacy produced results, and shared fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to resume negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Complex Route

The foreign minister is navigating a difficult path since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen more powerful militarily and mentally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium domestically that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the previous talks.

Previous Discussions Suddenly Terminated

The previous five rounds of negotiations between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the American leader claiming the sites had been destroyed. Afterward, Western states employed their privilege to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Proposed

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an local partnership with US participation could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Representatives stated repeatedly they had achieved a deal with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Existing Status

Tehran representatives declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be reintroduced in various formats if talks reopen.

The American leader last week said he had been getting signals that Iran sought to restart talks, but in private Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving coherent offers from Washington either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.

Negotiating Standpoint

In his address to the forum, aimed to depict the US as a controlling nation that abuses the idea of global regulations, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the dispute could not be ended by combat operations. He said the assaults started with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with total Washington understanding and coordination, making faith hard to reestablish.

Negotiations Remains the Ultimate Resolution

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted diplomacy; it was America and the Western nations that had always sought to dictate their will during the talks. Negotiations can still be alive and stays the ultimate resolution to resolve disagreements, but its standards, rules and principles must be followed."

"If they address to the Iranian people with the approach of respect and honor, they will get a answer in the same tone."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We acquired multiple understandings from this engagement; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the opponent."

He continued: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the will of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more cohesive, and more backing of the leadership and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."