Iran is ready to restart atomic talks with Washington provided that it is treated with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
The Iranian diplomat stated solely negotiations was effective, and disclosed fresh requests had been made by intermediaries to resume discussions with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to allow the global atomic watchdog to access struck enrichment centers for security reasons.
Araghchi is walking a challenging course since Iran wishes not to appear to be operating from a position of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the earlier negotiations.
The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile end on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that culminated with Donald Trump declaring the sites had been eliminated. Following this, EU nations employed their right to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.
Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been agreed in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Representatives asserted on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with the US representative the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Iran's diplomats said the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be revived in some form if discussions reopen.
Trump recently said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to resume discussions, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from America either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states diplomacy is not part of a performance.
In his remarks to the gathering, designed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict revealed the clash could not be settled by armed force. He said the attacks commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an absolute demand for a truce.
Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with complete American awareness and cooperation, making faith difficult to rebuild.
Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently attempted to impose their desires during the talks. Negotiations can still be viable and stays the final answer to address conflicts, but its standards, rules and tenets must be respected."
"If they talk to the Iranian people with the approach of respect and honor, they will receive a reply in the equivalent tone."
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi claimed he was certain Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We gained multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our personal limitations and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to eliminate, remains in place. The facilities and equipment, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but were unable to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more integrated, and more supportive of the administration and the country in the wake of this assault."
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