Tehran Says It Might Rejoin US Atomic Discussions if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'

Tehran is ready to restart atomic discussions with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has stated.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue worked, and revealed recent overtures had been made by mediators to resume negotiations with the US government. He asserted Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Complex Course

The foreign minister is navigating a complex route since Iran does not want be perceived to be acting from a position of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen more resilient in military terms and emotionally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Previous Discussions Suddenly Ended

The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with the US president declaring the facilities had been destroyed. Subsequently, EU nations used their authority to restore international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Offered

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an domestic cooperative with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the talks that American atomic experts could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Officials claimed three times they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Iran's diplomats said the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be reintroduced in some form if talks reopen.

Trump last week claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to restart talks, but privately Iranian officials say they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been charged of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran states negotiations is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Stance

In his speech to the conference, intended to depict the US as a dominant force that abuses the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the conflict could not be ended by military means. He said the assaults started with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making trust hard to rebuild.

Dialogue Stays the Ultimate Answer

Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had consistently sought to impose their demands during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be active and stays the final resolution to settle disputes, but its criteria, guidelines and principles must be respected."

"If they address to the Iranian people with the language of dignity and honor, they will receive a response in the equivalent tone."

Repair and Recovery

In what is portrayed by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and recovery, the foreign minister stated he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been reestablished. We learned multiple understandings from this war; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."

He added: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, remains in place. The sites and gear, if eliminated, will be restored; what is important is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more integrated, and more endorsing of the leadership and the country in the face of this invasion."

Denise Ramsey
Denise Ramsey

A tech journalist and software developer with over a decade of experience covering emerging technologies and digital innovation.