Tehran Says It Might Return to US Atomic Negotiations if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Respect'
Iran is willing to restart atomic discussions with Washington as long as it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and disclosed new appeals had come from mediators to resume discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to inspect struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.
Navigating a Challenging Path
Araghchi is treading a complex course since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be operating from a situation of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and mentally from the coordinated strike on its nuclear sites in June.
He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material on home soil that it will never give up" – the main reason of the impasse in the previous talks.
Prior Negotiations Abruptly Terminated
The previous five rounds of talks between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that concluded with Donald Trump asserting the facilities had been eliminated. Following this, European countries employed their right to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.
Perfect Agreement Suggested
Iran's diplomats said they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been agreed in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats asserted three times they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".
Existing Position
Tehran representatives stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the offer could be reintroduced in certain ways if discussions resume.
Trump recently said he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iran's diplomats say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from America either directly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Political Standpoint
In his speech to the forum, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the idea of global regulations, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict revealed the clash could not be settled by military means. He said the attacks commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with complete American awareness and cooperation, making trust challenging to reestablish.
Dialogue Stays the Ultimate Solution
Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had abandoned dialogue; it was the United States and the Western nations that had always attempted to enforce their desires during the talks. Dialogue can still be viable and remains the final resolution to resolve conflicts, but its requirements, regulations and fundamentals must be followed."
"In case they speak to the Iranian people with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a reply in the same language."
Restoration and Rebuilding
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and reconstruction, Araghchi stated he was assured Iran's military capacities "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We learned multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."
He stated: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is crucial is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but failed to break. The nation of Iran have become more resilient, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the nation in the wake of this attack."