🔗 Share this article

Iran is prepared to restart atomic negotiations with the United States provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat stated solely negotiations was effective, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by intermediaries to reopen talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to visit struck enrichment centers for security reasons.

Walking a Difficult Course

The foreign minister is treading a difficult course since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be acting from a situation of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out stronger defensively and psychologically from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.

He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Previous Talks Unexpectedly Concluded

The earlier sessions of negotiations between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with the American leader declaring the facilities had been destroyed. Subsequently, Western states employed their privilege to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Offered

Iranian officials said 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 US participation could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could operate inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Representatives asserted three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the deal to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Iran's diplomats stated the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be resurrected in certain ways if talks restart.

The US president recently stated he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to restart talks, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet getting clear proposals from Washington either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Stance

In his speech to the forum, intended to depict the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the idea of worldwide standards, Araghchi said the two-week conflict revealed the clash could not be settled by combat operations. He asserted the strikes commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were executed with complete American awareness and collaboration, making faith difficult to reestablish.

Dialogue Continues the Ultimate Solution

The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had consistently tried to dictate their will during the talks. Negotiations can still be viable and stays the ultimate solution to resolve disagreements, but its standards, regulations and fundamentals must be followed."

"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the tone of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the identical tone."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We acquired multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the adversary."

He stated: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to obliterate, remains in place. The sites and equipment, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but failed to destroy. The nation of Iran have become more powerful, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this assault."