Tehran Says It Could Return to US Nuclear Talks provided that Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is willing to resume nuclear discussions with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has stated.
Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue worked, and shared fresh requests had come from mediators to resume talks with the American leadership. He said Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Tehran was not yet able to allow the global atomic watchdog to access bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns.
Navigating a Complex Route
The foreign minister is treading a challenging course since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be proceeding from a position of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out stronger in military terms and mentally from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the previous talks.
Previous Talks Unexpectedly Terminated
The previous five rounds of talks between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and hostile end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that culminated with the US president declaring the facilities had been destroyed. Subsequently, European countries employed their privilege to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.
Perfect Agreement Suggested
Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was decided an local partnership with American involvement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been settled in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could operate inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives asserted on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".
Current Situation
Iranian officials stated the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the offer could be revived in some form if discussions reopen.
The American leader in recent days said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to restart talks, but confidentially Iran's diplomats state they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from Washington either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of inactivity in the wake of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Position
In his address to the conference, aimed to paint the US as a dominant force that exploits the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the 12-day war showed the clash could not be ended by armed force. He asserted the assaults started with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an absolute demand for a truce.
Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were mounted with complete American awareness and cooperation, making trust difficult to rebuild.
Dialogue Remains the Final Answer
Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had abandoned dialogue; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to enforce their demands during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be viable and remains the primary answer to settle disputes, but its standards, rules and principles must be respected."
"If they address to the Iranian people with the language of respect and honor, they will get a response in the identical language."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is described by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We learned multiple understandings from this war; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the opponent."
He continued: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to eliminate, stays intact. The installations and equipment, if destroyed, will be restored; what is important is the will of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but failed to break. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more united, and more backing of the administration and the country in the wake of this attack."