Iran Declares It Might Rejoin American Atomic Negotiations provided that Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is willing to resume atomic talks with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy was effective, and revealed fresh requests had been made by mediators to reopen negotiations with the US government. He said Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to authorize the global atomic watchdog to access struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.
Navigating a Difficult Route
The foreign minister is walking a difficult path since Iran does not want be seen to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the main reason of the impasse in the previous talks.
Earlier Negotiations Unexpectedly Terminated
The earlier sessions of discussions between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that ended with Donald Trump asserting the facilities had been obliterated. Subsequently, EU nations used their right to reimpose international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.
Magic Solution Proposed
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been decided in the talks that American atomic experts could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Representatives stated three times they had reached agreement with the US representative the US official only for the agreement to collapse due to "detractors in America".
Existing Situation
Iranian officials said the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems very probable the offer could be reintroduced in some form if talks reopen.
Trump in recent days stated he had been getting signals that Iran sought to resume discussions, but privately Iranian officials claim they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from America either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Position
In his address to the forum, intended to paint the US as a controlling nation that exploits the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the 12-day war demonstrated the clash could not be ended by armed force. He asserted the attacks began with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.
Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making faith hard to rebuild.
Negotiations Stays the Final Solution
The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly tried to dictate their demands during the talks. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the ultimate solution to resolve disputes, but its requirements, regulations and principles must be followed."
"In case they talk to the nation of Iran with the language of dignity and respect, they will get a answer in the same tone."
Restoration and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We acquired numerous insights from this war; we have identified our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He added: "We successfully passed this war. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and gear, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but failed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have grown more powerful, more cohesive, and more backing of the leadership and the nation in the wake of this invasion."