Tehran States It Could Return to US Nuclear Negotiations if Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'

Iran is ready to restart atomic talks with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has declared.

The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and revealed recent overtures had come from intermediaries to restart talks with the Trump administration. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran could not yet authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Challenging Route

Araghchi is treading a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be operating from a situation of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen more powerful in military terms and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material within its borders that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Earlier Discussions Abruptly Ended

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile termination on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that ended with the US president declaring the locations had been obliterated. Following this, Western states employed their authority to reimpose international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Offered

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in previous talks, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since local refinement would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.

It had not been decided in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could work inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Representatives stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with the US representative the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Current Position

Iranian officials stated the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be revived in some form if negotiations resume.

Trump recently stated he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to restart talks, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from the United States either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of passivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran states diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Position

In his remarks to the gathering, designed to depict the US as a dominant force that exploits the concept of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the fortnight-long engagement demonstrated the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the assaults started with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an complete request for a ceasefire.

Iran is assured the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with full US knowledge and cooperation, making trust challenging to reestablish.

Negotiations Remains the Primary Resolution

The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had always sought to dictate their will during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be active and stays the primary resolution to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, guidelines and tenets must be followed."

"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a reply in the same approach."

Restoration and Reconstruction

In what is described by Tehran representatives as the conflict of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi claimed 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 gained multiple understandings from this engagement; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He added: "We managed to survive this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to eliminate, continues to exist. The facilities and equipment, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but failed to shatter. The nation of Iran have become more powerful, more cohesive, and more backing of the government and the nation in the wake of this attack."

Laura Contreras
Laura Contreras

A tech journalist and digital strategist with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and business innovations across Europe.