Tehran States It Might Resume US Atomic Negotiations if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'
Tehran is ready to resume atomic discussions with Washington provided that it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.
The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed new appeals had been made by mediators to reopen negotiations with the US government. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to permit the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Navigating a Complex Course
Araghchi is navigating a complex course since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be acting from a situation of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material domestically that it will always maintain" β the key factor of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Talks Abruptly Concluded
The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and hostile end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with Donald Trump asserting the facilities had been destroyed. Subsequently, European countries used their authority to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was decided 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 certain that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.
It had not been agreed in the talks that American atomic experts could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated three times they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Situation
Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems very probable the proposal could be reintroduced in some form if discussions reopen.
Trump recently stated he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to restart talks, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from America either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been criticized of passivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran states diplomacy is not part of a show.
Diplomatic Stance
In his remarks to the conference, aimed to paint the US as a dominant force that exploits the idea of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the 12-day war demonstrated the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He said the attacks commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an absolute demand for a truce.
Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with full US knowledge and coordination, making trust hard to reestablish.
Negotiations Stays the Final Answer
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had always sought to dictate their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be alive and remains the primary resolution to settle disagreements, but its criteria, rules and tenets must be adhered to."
"If they address to the Iranian people with the language of dignity and honor, they will receive a reply in the same approach."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is described by Tehran representatives as the conflict of recovery and reconstruction, Araghchi claimed he was assured Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this conflict; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the adversary."
He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to destroy, remains in place. The installations and machinery, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is important is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but failed to break. The nation of Iran have developed more resilient, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the wake of this assault."