Iran Declares It Might Rejoin American Atomic Talks if Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Iran is willing to restart nuclear talks with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.
Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue produced results, and revealed new appeals had come from go-betweens to restart discussions with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran could not yet authorize the global atomic watchdog to visit bombed nuclear sites for security reasons.
Navigating a Difficult Route
Araghchi is walking a complex path since Iran wishes not to appear to be acting from a situation of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and emotionally from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will perpetually retain" – the main reason of the stalemate in the prior discussions.
Previous Talks Suddenly Concluded
The previous five rounds of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader asserting the locations had been eliminated. Following this, Western states used their right to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.
Magic Solution Offered
Iranian officials stated they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that American atomic experts could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with the US representative Steve Witkoff only for the deal to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".
Present Status
Tehran representatives declared the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the offer could be reintroduced in some form if discussions restart.
The American leader in recent days stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from Washington either directly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been charged of inactivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran says dialogue is not part of a performance.
Political Position
In his address to the forum, designed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the idea of international law, the foreign minister said the fortnight-long engagement demonstrated the conflict could not be resolved by armed force. He asserted the attacks commenced with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with full US knowledge and cooperation, making faith difficult to rebuild.
Diplomacy Stays the Ultimate Resolution
Araghchi stated: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the European states that had consistently sought to dictate their will during the talks. Dialogue can still be active and continues the final solution to address conflicts, but its standards, rules and tenets must be adhered to."
"In case they address to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will get a answer in the same approach."
Recovery and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We learned multiple understandings from this conflict; we have identified our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."
He continued: "We successfully passed this war. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to eliminate, remains in place. The facilities and equipment, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the will of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but failed to break. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more united, and more backing of the government and the nation in the face of this assault."