Tehran Declares It May Rejoin US Atomic Talks provided that Approached with 'Respect' and 'Respect'
Tehran is ready to resume atomic negotiations with the United States provided that it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.
The Iranian diplomat declared solely negotiations produced results, and disclosed fresh requests had come from go-betweens to reopen negotiations with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran was not yet able to allow the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Walking a Challenging Course
Araghchi is treading a complex route since Iran does not want be perceived to be acting from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged stronger militarily and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.
He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to process nuclear material domestically that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the prior discussions.
Prior Discussions Unexpectedly Concluded
The prior phases of talks between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the US president asserting the sites had been eliminated. Afterward, EU nations used their privilege to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been decided in the negotiations that American atomic experts could work on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the agreement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Position
Iranian officials stated the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the offer could be resurrected in some form if negotiations resume.
The American leader recently said he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to restart talks, but confidentially Iran's diplomats state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of passivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.
Political Stance
In his remarks to the conference, aimed to portray the US as a dominant force that misuses the concept of international law, the foreign minister said the 12-day war showed the dispute could not be ended by military means. He stated the attacks started with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an complete request for a truce.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence difficult to reestablish.
Negotiations Remains the Ultimate Answer
Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the western countries that had repeatedly tried to enforce their desires during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be alive and stays the ultimate resolution to resolve disputes, but its criteria, rules and fundamentals must be respected."
"In case they talk to the Iranian people with the tone of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the equivalent tone."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the conflict of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We acquired multiple understandings from this war; we have identified our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the adversary."
He stated: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to obliterate, remains in place. The facilities and machinery, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they targeted, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have grown more powerful, more integrated, and more supportive of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."