Iran Declares It May Return to US Atomic Discussions if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Iran is ready to restart nuclear discussions with the United States on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy worked, and disclosed new appeals had originated from mediators to reopen negotiations with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Navigating a Challenging Course
Araghchi is walking a complex path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be operating from a stance of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more powerful militarily and mentally from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium domestically that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the prior discussions.
Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Ended
The previous five rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader claiming the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, European countries exercised their right to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Tehran representatives said they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with US participation could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been decided in the negotiations that American atomic experts could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Current Position
Iran's diplomats said the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations reopen.
The American leader in recent days stated he had been getting signals that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet getting coherent offers from the United States either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been charged of passivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a show.
Political Stance
In his address to the forum, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the notion of worldwide standards, the foreign minister said the fortnight-long engagement revealed the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the assaults commenced with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with complete American awareness and collaboration, making faith difficult to reestablish.
Diplomacy Remains the Ultimate Answer
The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the European states that had always attempted to impose their demands during the discussions. Dialogue can still be active and remains the final solution to settle conflicts, but its requirements, guidelines and tenets must be respected."
"If they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of respect and honor, they will receive a answer in the identical approach."
Restoration and Rebuilding
In what is described by Tehran representatives as the conflict of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister said he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We learned many lessons from this war; we have discovered our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He added: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to eliminate, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is important is the determination of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but were unable to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more integrated, and more endorsing of the leadership and the nation in the wake of this assault."