Iran Says It Might Rejoin American Atomic Discussions if Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'

Tehran is prepared to restart nuclear negotiations with Washington on condition that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat declared solely negotiations produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had come from intermediaries to reopen negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran had not yet reached a point to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to access struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.

Walking a Complex Path

The foreign minister is treading a complex course since Iran wishes not to appear to be proceeding from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its nuclear sites in June.

He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Prior Talks Suddenly Ended

The earlier sessions of negotiations between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that culminated with the American leader asserting the facilities had been eliminated. Subsequently, European countries employed their authority to reimpose international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Suggested

Tehran representatives said they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the cooperative offer. Diplomats stated on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Present Status

Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the offer could be reintroduced in certain ways if negotiations restart.

Trump last week stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but in private Iranian officials state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been charged of non-responsiveness in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a spectacle.

Political Stance

In his address to the gathering, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of international law, the foreign minister said the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be settled by armed force. He said the strikes commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were mounted with complete American awareness and collaboration, making confidence difficult to reestablish.

Diplomacy Remains the Primary Answer

Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had repeatedly sought to enforce their will during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the ultimate answer to address disputes, but its criteria, guidelines and fundamentals must be followed."

"In case they speak to the Iranian people with the tone of respect and honor, they will get a reply in the equivalent tone."

Recovery and Recovery

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister said he was confident Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired many lessons from this war; we have identified our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to obliterate, continues to exist. The sites and gear, if destroyed, will be restored; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more united, and more supportive of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this attack."

Debra Brown
Debra Brown

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