Iran Declares It Could Resume American Nuclear Negotiations if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'

Tehran is willing to restart atomic negotiations with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy produced results, and revealed fresh requests had come from intermediaries to restart talks with the US government. He said Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for security reasons.

Walking a Challenging Route

Araghchi is treading a challenging path since Iran wishes not to be seen to be operating from a position of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient defensively and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium domestically that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the previous talks.

Prior Negotiations Suddenly Terminated

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with Donald Trump claiming the sites had been eliminated. Following this, European countries employed their authority to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an local partnership with US participation could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Existing Situation

Iran's diplomats said the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations resume.

The American leader last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to resume discussions, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, 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 asserts dialogue is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Position

In his address to the gathering, aimed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of international law, Araghchi said the fortnight-long engagement showed the dispute could not be resolved by military means. He said the assaults commenced with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an unconditional call for a truce.

Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with complete American awareness and cooperation, making trust challenging to rebuild.

Dialogue Stays the Primary Answer

Araghchi stated: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the Western nations that had always tried to dictate their desires during the talks. Dialogue can still be alive and continues the ultimate answer to resolve disputes, but its requirements, rules and principles must be respected."

"Provided that they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of respect and honor, they will receive a reply in the equivalent language."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is described by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been reestablished. We gained many lessons from this engagement; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."

He continued: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to destroy, stays intact. The installations and gear, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to break. The nation of Iran have developed more powerful, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this invasion."