Tehran States It Might Resume American Atomic Talks if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Tehran is ready to reinitiate nuclear negotiations with the United States on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.
Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue produced results, and shared recent overtures had originated from mediators to resume negotiations with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.
Walking a Challenging Course
Araghchi is navigating a complex path since Iran does not want be seen to be operating from a position of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more resilient militarily and psychologically 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 process nuclear material on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the impasse in the prior discussions.
Previous Negotiations Suddenly Ended
The prior phases of talks between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader declaring the sites had been destroyed. Subsequently, European countries exercised their privilege to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.
Magic Solution Proposed
Tehran representatives said they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been agreed in the talks that US nuclear scientists could work on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Representatives stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the arrangement to collapse due to "opponents in the US".
Current Position
Tehran representatives stated the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations resume.
The US president last week claimed he had been getting signals that Iran desired to resume discussions, but privately Iranian officials state they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from America either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of passivity in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.
Negotiating Position
In his speech to the conference, designed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of global regulations, Araghchi declared the 12-day war showed the clash could not be settled by armed force. He said the assaults commenced with a US demand for an total Iran submission and ended with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were mounted with full US knowledge and collaboration, making trust hard to rebuild.
Negotiations Stays the Ultimate Solution
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had consistently tried to enforce their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and stays the primary solution to resolve conflicts, but its standards, regulations and tenets must be adhered to."
"Provided that they talk to the Iranian people with the language of respect and honor, they will get a reply in the identical language."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is described by Tehran representatives as the battle of repair and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was assured Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We learned many lessons from this conflict; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He added: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to obliterate, continues to exist. The installations and equipment, if destroyed, will be restored; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have grown more resilient, more integrated, and more supportive of the leadership and the nation in the face of this assault."