Iran Says It Could Resume American Atomic Discussions provided that Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Iran is willing to reinitiate nuclear discussions with Washington provided that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has announced.
The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy produced results, and revealed fresh requests had come from intermediaries to reopen talks with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Tehran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.
Walking a Challenging Course
Araghchi is navigating a difficult course since Iran does not want be seen to be proceeding from a position of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more resilient militarily and emotionally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.
He was speaking at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the stalemate in the previous talks.
Previous Negotiations Abruptly Terminated
The earlier sessions of discussions between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that concluded with the American leader declaring the sites had been eliminated. Afterward, European countries exercised their right to reinstate UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.
Perfect Agreement Suggested
Iranian officials stated they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Diplomats claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "detractors in America".
Present Position
Iran's diplomats declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the offer could be resurrected in some form if talks restart.
The US president recently said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to resume discussions, but privately Tehran representatives claim they are not yet getting coherent offers from America either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of passivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a spectacle.
Negotiating Position
In his speech to the forum, designed to paint the US as a dominant force that misuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the clash could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the strikes started with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were executed with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence hard to rebuild.
Dialogue Stays the Final Resolution
The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly sought to dictate their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be alive and remains the ultimate resolution to settle disagreements, but its standards, rules and tenets must be respected."
"If they address to the nation of Iran with the language of dignity and respect, they will obtain a answer in the same language."
Recovery and Rebuilding
In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the conflict of recovery and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was assured Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this engagement; we have identified our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the enemy."
He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to destroy, continues to exist. The facilities and equipment, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the determination of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but were unable to shatter. The Iranian people have grown more resilient, more integrated, and more endorsing of the leadership and the country in the aftermath of this attack."