Tehran Says It Could Return to American Nuclear Talks provided that Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'

Iran is willing to reinitiate atomic negotiations with the United States on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has announced.

The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue was effective, and revealed recent overtures had come from intermediaries to resume discussions with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet authorize the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.

Navigating a Challenging Path

The foreign minister is walking a challenging path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be proceeding from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.

He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will never give up" – the main reason of the stalemate in the previous talks.

Previous Negotiations Abruptly Concluded

The previous five rounds of negotiations between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that concluded with the US president asserting the sites had been eliminated. Following this, Western states exercised their right to reimpose international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.

Ideal Resolution Suggested

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" 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 claim victory since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could work on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Representatives claimed three times they had achieved a deal with the US representative the American negotiator only for the arrangement to collapse due to "opponents in the US".

Existing Situation

Iran's diplomats declared the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in some form if discussions reopen.

The American leader last week claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to restart talks, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of non-responsiveness in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a show.

Political Position

In his address to the conference, aimed to portray the US as a dominant force that misuses the idea of global regulations, Araghchi said the 12-day war demonstrated the clash could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the assaults started with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an absolute demand for a truce.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with total Washington understanding and coordination, making trust hard to rebuild.

Diplomacy Stays the Primary Solution

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had deserted diplomacy; it was the United States and the Western nations that had always sought to impose their demands during the talks. Dialogue can still be alive and continues the primary solution to resolve disputes, but its criteria, regulations and fundamentals must be adhered to."

"If they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will get a answer in the same approach."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We gained multiple understandings from this conflict; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He stated: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to eliminate, continues to exist. The installations and gear, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is important is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but did not succeed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more integrated, and more endorsing of the leadership and the state in the face of this assault."