Tehran Says It May Resume American Nuclear Negotiations provided that Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Iran is prepared to restart nuclear discussions with Washington on condition that it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
Abbas Araghchi declared exclusively dialogue worked, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from mediators to restart talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Walking a Difficult Course
The foreign minister is treading a challenging course since Iran does not want be perceived to be operating from a situation of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen stronger militarily and mentally from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.
Prior Talks Unexpectedly Concluded
The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that culminated with the American leader declaring the facilities had been destroyed. Following this, EU nations employed their privilege to restore international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a substantial consequence.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been settled in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Representatives claimed three times they had achieved a deal with the US representative the American negotiator only for the deal to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".
Current Status
Iranian officials said the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the offer could be resurrected in some form if discussions resume.
The US president last week claimed he had been getting signals that Iran sought to restart talks, but privately Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving coherent offers from Washington either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of passivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a spectacle.
Negotiating Standpoint
In his address to the conference, designed to portray the US as a dominant force that exploits the notion of global regulations, the foreign minister stated the 12-day war revealed the conflict could not be settled by military means. He stated the strikes started with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with full US knowledge and cooperation, making faith hard to reestablish.
Dialogue Remains the Primary Solution
The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned dialogue; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly tried to impose their will during the talks. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the final solution to settle disputes, but its criteria, rules and principles must be adhered to."
"In case they speak to the Iranian people with the language of dignity and honor, they will obtain a answer in the identical approach."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been rebuilt. We learned multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the adversary."
He stated: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to destroy, stays intact. The sites and gear, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but did not succeed to destroy. The Iranian people have become more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."