Iran Says It Might Resume US Nuclear Discussions provided that Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is ready to resume nuclear talks with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has declared.
The Iranian diplomat stated solely negotiations produced results, and disclosed new appeals had been made by go-betweens to resume talks with the US government. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to inspect struck enrichment centers for security reasons.
Walking a Challenging Route
The foreign minister is treading a difficult route since Iran wishes not to be seen to be acting from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged more powerful defensively and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.
He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material within its borders that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the prior discussions.
Previous Negotiations Suddenly Concluded
The previous five rounds of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with Donald Trump asserting the locations had been eliminated. Afterward, EU nations employed their authority to reimpose international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with US participation could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could operate inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Officials stated on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Situation
Iran's diplomats declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in some form if talks reopen.
The American leader recently claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran sought to resume discussions, but in private Tehran representatives state they are not yet receiving clear proposals from the United States either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been charged of passivity in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Standpoint
In his remarks to the forum, intended to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict demonstrated the dispute could not be settled by armed force. He said the strikes started with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an unconditional call for a ceasefire.
Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with total Washington understanding and coordination, making trust difficult to restore.
Diplomacy Stays the Final Resolution
Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had consistently tried to enforce their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be active and stays the primary resolution to address disagreements, but its requirements, regulations and fundamentals must be followed."
"Provided that they talk to the Iranian people with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a answer in the same language."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and recovery, Araghchi said he was assured Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We learned numerous insights from this engagement; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the adversary."
He stated: "We effectively endured this war. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to eliminate, remains in place. The facilities and machinery, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the determination of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but failed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the government and the country in the wake of this invasion."