🔗 Share this article

Iran is ready to restart nuclear talks with Washington on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy was effective, and revealed fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to restart talks with the US government. He claimed Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Complex Course

The foreign minister is treading a difficult route since Iran wishes not to be seen to be proceeding from a situation of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen more resilient in military terms and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the previous talks.

Previous Discussions Unexpectedly Ended

The earlier sessions of discussions between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that culminated with Donald Trump claiming the sites had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states exercised their right to restore international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was decided an local partnership with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been agreed in the talks that American atomic experts could function on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the consortium proposal. Representatives asserted on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the agreement to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Current Situation

Iranian officials declared the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be revived in some form if negotiations reopen.

The US president recently stated he had been obtaining communications that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but privately Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran says diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Standpoint

In his address to the forum, intended to portray the US as a dominant force that misuses the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister declared the 12-day war demonstrated the conflict could not be ended by military means. He asserted the assaults started with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is assured the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with complete American awareness and coordination, making faith difficult to rebuild.

Negotiations Continues the Ultimate Solution

The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted dialogue; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently attempted to impose their will during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the final answer to address disagreements, but its standards, rules and tenets must be respected."

"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the tone of dignity and respect, they will receive a response in the equivalent tone."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We gained many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He stated: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The installations and gear, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the leadership and the state in the face of this attack."