Iran States It Could Return to American Atomic Talks if Handled with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is prepared to restart atomic talks with the United States provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.
Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue was effective, and revealed recent overtures had originated from go-betweens to restart negotiations with the US government. He claimed Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Iran could not yet authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.
Walking a Challenging Route
Araghchi is treading a difficult route since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be acting from a stance of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged stronger militarily and psychologically from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.
He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium on home soil that it will never give up" – the key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Talks Abruptly Ended
The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that concluded with the US president claiming the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, European countries used their right to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Iranian officials claimed they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to declare success 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 settled in the talks that US nuclear scientists could function inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Officials asserted three times they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the agreement to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Situation
Tehran representatives declared the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if discussions resume.
The American leader last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats say they are not yet obtaining clear proposals 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 passivity in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a spectacle.
Political Standpoint
In his remarks to the forum, intended to depict the US as a dominant force that misuses the idea of international law, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict demonstrated the clash could not be settled by combat operations. He said the attacks commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an unconditional call for a ceasefire.
Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making confidence hard to restore.
Negotiations Continues the Ultimate Solution
Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled dialogue; it was America and the Western nations that had consistently attempted to impose their desires during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be viable and remains the ultimate resolution to address conflicts, but its requirements, regulations and tenets must be followed."
"In case they address to the Iranian people with the language of dignity and respect, they will get a reply in the equivalent tone."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is described by Iran's diplomats as the battle of restoration and rebuilding, the foreign minister said he was assured Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We gained multiple understandings from this conflict; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the enemy."
He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to obliterate, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if damaged, will be restored; what is essential is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but failed to break. The Iranian people have grown more resilient, more integrated, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this invasion."