🔗 Share this article

Iran is willing to resume atomic discussions with the United States provided that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has declared.

Abbas Araghchi declared solely negotiations produced results, and revealed recent overtures had been made by go-betweens to restart discussions with the US government. He claimed Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.

Walking a Difficult Course

The foreign minister is walking a complex path since Iran does not want be perceived to be proceeding from a situation of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the previous talks.

Earlier Talks Abruptly Ended

The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the American leader declaring the locations had been destroyed. Subsequently, European countries exercised their right to reimpose international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.

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. Each party would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.

It had not been decided in the talks that US nuclear scientists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Diplomats asserted repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the deal to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Tehran representatives said the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the proposal could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations restart.

Trump in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from the United States either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of passivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his speech to the forum, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the conflict could not be settled by military means. He stated the assaults started with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence challenging to rebuild.

Dialogue Remains the Primary Resolution

The foreign minister declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently tried to enforce their will during the discussions. Negotiations can still be alive and continues the final resolution to settle disputes, but its requirements, rules and fundamentals must be followed."

"In case they address to the citizens of Tehran with the language of respect and honor, they will receive a answer in the same tone."

Recovery and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of restoration and recovery, the foreign minister stated he was certain Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We learned many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the adversary."

He added: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to eliminate, stays intact. The installations and equipment, if damaged, will be restored; what is important is the will 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 grown more resilient, more cohesive, and more backing of the administration and the nation in the face of this invasion."