🔗 Share this article

Iran is prepared to resume atomic discussions with Washington on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat declared exclusively dialogue was effective, and revealed fresh requests had originated from mediators to reopen negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Navigating a Challenging Path

Araghchi is treading a difficult path since Iran does not want be perceived to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and mentally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium on home soil that it will never give up" – the key factor of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Previous Talks Suddenly Concluded

The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that concluded with Donald Trump claiming the locations had been obliterated. Afterward, EU nations exercised their privilege to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Offered

Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with US participation could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US".

Current Situation

Iran's diplomats said the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be reintroduced in some form if talks reopen.

Trump last week stated he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from Washington either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of passivity in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran says dialogue is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Position

In his address to the gathering, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement revealed the dispute could not be resolved by combat operations. He asserted the attacks started with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were mounted with full US knowledge and collaboration, making confidence hard to restore.

Negotiations Continues the Final Answer

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had consistently attempted to impose their demands during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be alive and remains the ultimate resolution to resolve disagreements, but its criteria, rules and principles must be adhered to."

"In case they speak to the Iranian people with the language of respect and respect, they will get a reply in the same approach."

Restoration and Recovery

In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We gained many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He added: "We managed to survive this war. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to obliterate, remains in place. The sites and equipment, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to destroy. The Iranian people have grown stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this attack."