🔗 Share this article

Iran is prepared to restart atomic talks with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has declared.

The Iranian diplomat declared solely negotiations produced results, and disclosed fresh requests had been made by go-betweens to resume discussions with the American leadership. He asserted Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Walking a Challenging Course

The foreign minister is navigating a complex route since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Prior Negotiations Suddenly Concluded

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that concluded with the American leader asserting the sites had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states exercised their authority to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Offered

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 process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the cooperative offer. Diplomats stated three times they had achieved a deal with the US representative Steve Witkoff only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Present Situation

Tehran representatives said the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in certain ways if discussions reopen.

The US president last week stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but in private Iranian officials claim they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from America either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been criticized of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a show.

Political Standpoint

In his remarks to the forum, designed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict showed the dispute could not be settled by combat operations. He asserted the attacks commenced with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were carried out with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making faith challenging to restore.

Negotiations Remains the Ultimate Answer

Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned dialogue; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to dictate their desires during the discussions. Negotiations can still be active and stays the final answer to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, guidelines and fundamentals must be adhered to."

"In case they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the language of dignity and respect, they will obtain a reply in the identical tone."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is described by Iranian officials as the battle of repair and recovery, the foreign minister stated he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We acquired many lessons from this engagement; we have identified our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He added: "We effectively endured this war. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and equipment, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but failed to break. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the face of this assault."