Tehran Says It May Return to US Atomic Negotiations if Treated with 'Respect' and 'Honor'

Tehran is ready to reinitiate nuclear discussions with Washington on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy worked, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from intermediaries to restart talks with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Navigating a Challenging Path

Araghchi is navigating a complex course since Iran wishes not to appear to be acting from a situation of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium within its borders that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Earlier Discussions Abruptly Concluded

The previous five rounds of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader claiming the sites had been eliminated. Following this, Western states used their authority to reinstate international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Perfect Agreement Suggested

Iran's diplomats said they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the deal to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Tehran representatives said the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the offer could be revived in certain ways if talks restart.

Trump recently claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to resume discussions, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet receiving coherent offers from Washington either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran says diplomacy is not part of a spectacle.

Political Stance

In his remarks to the gathering, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of international law, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict revealed the clash could not be settled by military means. He asserted the assaults commenced with a US demand for an total Iran submission and ended with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with complete American awareness and coordination, making confidence difficult to rebuild.

Diplomacy Stays the Final Resolution

The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled diplomacy; it was America and the western countries that had always attempted to dictate their desires during the talks. Negotiations can still be active and continues the final answer to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, rules and principles must be adhered to."

"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the language of dignity and respect, they will obtain a response in the same approach."

Restoration and Recovery

In what is described by Iranian officials as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was certain Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We acquired many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He continued: "We managed to survive this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to destroy, remains in place. The installations and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but did not succeed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more cohesive, and more supportive of the administration and the country in the wake of this attack."