Tehran Declares It Could Resume American Nuclear Discussions if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is prepared to resume atomic discussions with the United States on condition that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.
The Iranian diplomat declared solely negotiations produced results, and revealed recent overtures had come from mediators to resume discussions with the American leadership. He said Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran had not yet reached a point to authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to access struck enrichment centers for protective measures.
Walking a Challenging Route
The foreign minister is navigating a challenging path since Iran does not want be seen to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out stronger defensively and mentally from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.
He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the stalemate in the previous talks.
Earlier Negotiations Abruptly Ended
The earlier sessions of talks between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that concluded with the US president claiming the sites had been obliterated. Following this, Western states employed their right to reimpose international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.
Magic Solution Suggested
Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could work inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated three times they had reached agreement with the US representative the American negotiator only for the deal to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Position
Tehran representatives stated the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be resurrected in certain ways if discussions reopen.
The American leader last week claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Tehran representatives claim they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from Washington either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran states diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Position
In his speech to the forum, intended to portray the US as a dominant force that misuses the concept of international law, Araghchi declared the 12-day war demonstrated the clash could not be resolved by armed force. He said the assaults started with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an complete request for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were executed with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making trust hard to reestablish.
Diplomacy Remains the Final Answer
The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned diplomacy; it was America and the Western nations that had consistently sought to dictate their desires during the discussions. Negotiations can still be alive and continues the ultimate resolution to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, rules and tenets must be followed."
"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a response in the identical language."
Repair and Rebuilding
In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the conflict of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this engagement; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the opponent."
He stated: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if eliminated, will be restored; what is important is the will of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but failed to destroy. The nation of Iran have developed stronger, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the face of this assault."