Tehran Says It May Resume US Atomic Discussions provided that Approached with 'Respect' and 'Respect'

Tehran is prepared to resume atomic negotiations with the United States as long as it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy was effective, and revealed new appeals had originated from mediators to restart negotiations with the US government. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Walking a Difficult Course

The foreign minister is treading a challenging path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be proceeding from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.

He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Concluded

The prior phases of talks between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that concluded with the US president asserting the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states employed their authority to restore global restrictions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Iran's diplomats said they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives asserted repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Existing Position

Iran's diplomats declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be resurrected in some form if talks reopen.

Trump last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials claim they are not yet getting consistent overtures from Washington either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of passivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a spectacle.

Negotiating Standpoint

In his speech to the conference, aimed to depict the US as a dominant force that exploits the notion of worldwide standards, the foreign minister stated the two-week conflict demonstrated the clash could not be ended by armed force. He stated the attacks began with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence hard to rebuild.

Negotiations Stays the Final Resolution

Araghchi stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned diplomacy; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to impose their desires during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be active and remains the final solution to address disagreements, but its requirements, rules and tenets must be followed."

"In case they address to the nation of Iran with the language of respect and honor, they will receive a reply in the equivalent tone."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the conflict of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired multiple understandings from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the adversary."

He continued: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to eliminate, stays intact. The installations and equipment, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but failed to shatter. The Iranian people have developed stronger, more united, and more supportive of the government and the country in the face of this assault."