Tehran States It May Return to US Atomic Talks provided that Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Tehran is willing to restart atomic talks with the United States on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has announced.
The Iranian diplomat declared exclusively dialogue produced results, and disclosed new appeals had come from intermediaries to resume discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Iran had not yet reached a point to permit the global atomic watchdog to access bombed nuclear sites for security reasons.
Walking a Difficult Path
Araghchi is treading a complex route since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be operating from a position of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen more powerful in military terms and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the impasse in the previous talks.
Previous Talks Unexpectedly Ended
The previous five rounds of discussions between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that concluded with the US president claiming the sites had been destroyed. Following this, European countries employed their right to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.
Magic Solution Proposed
Iran's diplomats said they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Representatives stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with the US representative the American negotiator only for the agreement to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Situation
Iran's diplomats stated the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the offer could be revived in some form if talks resume.
The US president in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet receiving clear proposals from Washington either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of passivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran says negotiations is not part of a spectacle.
Diplomatic Standpoint
In his remarks to the conference, intended to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of international law, the foreign minister declared the 12-day war showed the clash could not be settled by armed force. He stated the assaults began with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an unconditional call for a truce.
Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence hard to reestablish.
Diplomacy Continues the Primary Solution
Araghchi said: "Tehran was not the one that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to enforce their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be active and continues the ultimate resolution to settle disagreements, but its requirements, regulations and fundamentals must be respected."
"In case they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a answer in the identical approach."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the battle of recovery and reconstruction, the foreign minister said he was assured Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."
He stated: "We successfully passed this war. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to obliterate, continues to exist. The facilities and equipment, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but were unable to destroy. The Iranian people have become more powerful, more united, and more endorsing of the leadership and the state in the wake of this attack."