🔗 Share this article

Tehran is willing to restart atomic talks with the United States on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "respect", Iran's top diplomat has stated.

Abbas Araghchi declared exclusively dialogue worked, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by intermediaries to restart discussions with the US government. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran could not yet permit the global atomic watchdog to visit struck enrichment centers for security reasons.

Walking a Complex Route

Araghchi is walking a challenging path since Iran does not want be perceived to be proceeding from a stance of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger militarily and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Prior Discussions Unexpectedly Concluded

The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that concluded with the US president asserting the sites had been destroyed. Afterward, European countries employed their authority to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was decided an local partnership with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Officials stated three times they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Current Situation

Iranian officials stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be resurrected in some form if negotiations reopen.

Trump recently claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials state they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from America either directly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of passivity in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran states negotiations is not part of a show.

Negotiating Standpoint

In his speech to the gathering, intended to portray the US as a dominant force that exploits the concept of international law, Araghchi stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the dispute could not be resolved by armed force. He asserted the strikes commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with full US knowledge and collaboration, making trust difficult to rebuild.

Diplomacy Continues the Primary Solution

The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted diplomacy; it was America and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to dictate their desires during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be viable and stays the final resolution to address conflicts, but its criteria, rules and principles must be respected."

"Provided that they talk to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a response in the identical tone."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired numerous insights from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He continued: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and machinery, if eliminated, will be restored; what is important is the determination of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to destroy. The nation of Iran have become more resilient, more united, and more supportive of the government and the nation in the face of this attack."