Tehran Says It Could Resume American Nuclear Discussions if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Respect'

Iran is prepared to reinitiate nuclear talks with the United States provided that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.

The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy produced results, and revealed fresh requests had been made by go-betweens to resume discussions with the US government. He claimed Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran had not yet reached a point to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit bombed nuclear sites for security reasons.

Walking a Difficult Path

Araghchi is walking a difficult route since Iran aims to avoid appear to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had arisen more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium within its borders that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Concluded

The earlier sessions of discussions between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that concluded with the US president asserting the locations had been destroyed. Afterward, Western states exercised their right to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Proposed

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with US participation could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could work inside Iran, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Diplomats asserted on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with the US representative the US official only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".

Current Status

Iran's diplomats stated the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if talks resume.

Trump in recent days stated he had been obtaining communications that Iran sought to resume discussions, but confidentially Iran's diplomats say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from America either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of inactivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran states negotiations is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Position

In his remarks to the conference, intended to paint the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the idea of international law, Araghchi stated the 12-day war revealed the clash could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the attacks began with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making confidence difficult to rebuild.

Diplomacy Remains the Final Answer

The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had abandoned diplomacy; it was America and the Western nations that had repeatedly sought to enforce their will during the talks. Diplomacy can still be active and continues the ultimate answer to settle conflicts, but its standards, guidelines and tenets must be respected."

"Provided that they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will receive a response in the identical tone."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is described by Iranian officials as the struggle of restoration and recovery, Araghchi claimed he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We acquired multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the adversary."

He stated: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to obliterate, continues to exist. The installations and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but were unable to destroy. The Iranian people have grown more powerful, more united, and more backing of the administration and the nation in the wake of this assault."

Matthew Rios
Matthew Rios

Tech enthusiast and wearable expert with a passion for reviewing the latest gadgets.