🔗 Share this article

Iran is willing to reinitiate atomic talks with Washington on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi declared solely negotiations was effective, and disclosed new appeals had been made by mediators to reopen talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Walking a Complex Route

Araghchi is treading a difficult route since Iran does not want be seen to be proceeding from a position of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen more resilient defensively and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Prior Discussions Abruptly Ended

The earlier sessions of discussions between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that culminated with the US president claiming the sites had been obliterated. Afterward, Western states exercised their privilege to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Offered

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could work inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Present Position

Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the proposal could be reintroduced in some form if negotiations restart.

Trump in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to resume discussions, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from America either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of inactivity in the wake of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Position

In his remarks to the forum, designed to paint the US as a controlling nation that abuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement demonstrated the conflict could not be resolved by armed force. He said the assaults began with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an unconditional call for a truce.

Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith hard to rebuild.

Dialogue Continues the Final Resolution

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had abandoned dialogue; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly tried to impose their will during the talks. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the ultimate answer to settle disputes, but its standards, rules and tenets must be adhered to."

"Provided that they talk to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will get a response in the identical approach."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Tehran representatives as the conflict of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi claimed he was confident 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 acquired numerous insights from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."

He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to eliminate, continues to exist. The installations and gear, if eliminated, will be restored; what is important is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the face of this invasion."