Iran Says It Might Resume American Atomic Discussions if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Respect'

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

Abbas Araghchi said solely negotiations was effective, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by go-betweens to reopen discussions with the US government. He claimed Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to inspect struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.

Walking a Complex Path

The foreign minister is treading a complex course since Iran does not want be seen to be acting from a position of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and psychologically from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.

He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Earlier Talks Unexpectedly Concluded

The prior phases of discussions between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that culminated with Donald Trump asserting the facilities had been obliterated. Following this, European countries used their privilege to restore international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Offered

Iranian officials stated they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could operate inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Officials claimed on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with the US representative the American negotiator only for the arrangement to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Situation

Iran's diplomats declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be resurrected in certain ways if talks resume.

Trump last week said he had been getting signals that Iran sought to restart talks, but privately Tehran representatives say they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from America either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of inactivity in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran states dialogue is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his remarks to the conference, designed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the 12-day war revealed the dispute could not be ended by combat operations. He said the strikes started with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an absolute demand for a truce.

Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were executed with complete American awareness and cooperation, making faith difficult to rebuild.

Diplomacy Remains the Ultimate Solution

Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had always attempted to enforce their demands during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be viable and stays the primary resolution to address conflicts, but its standards, guidelines and fundamentals must be adhered to."

"If they talk to the citizens of Tehran with the language of dignity and honor, they will receive a reply in the identical language."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi claimed he was confident Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained multiple understandings from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He stated: "We managed to survive this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to eliminate, stays intact. The installations and machinery, if damaged, will be restored; what is important is the will of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to shatter. The nation of Iran have grown more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this assault."