🔗 Share this article

Iran is willing to reinitiate atomic discussions with the United States as long as it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi said solely negotiations was effective, and revealed new appeals had come from intermediaries to resume talks with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Navigating a Challenging Route

The foreign minister is navigating a complex path since Iran does not want be perceived to be acting from a situation of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged stronger defensively and mentally from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.

He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material on home soil that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.

Previous Negotiations Unexpectedly Ended

The previous five rounds of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that culminated with Donald Trump declaring the sites had been eliminated. Following this, European countries exercised their right to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Tehran representatives said they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the talks that US nuclear scientists could work inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Diplomats stated on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to collapse due to "detractors in America".

Existing Position

Tehran representatives declared the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the proposal could be reintroduced in various formats if talks resume.

The US president last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to restart talks, but in private Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet getting clear proposals from America either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of inactivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a show.

Negotiating Stance

In his remarks to the forum, intended to depict the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister stated the fortnight-long engagement showed the conflict could not be ended by armed force. He stated the strikes started with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and concluded with an unconditional call for a ceasefire.

Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with complete American awareness and coordination, making confidence difficult to restore.

Dialogue Remains the Final Answer

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted diplomacy; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly tried to enforce their will during the discussions. Dialogue can still be alive and remains the final solution to address conflicts, but its requirements, guidelines and principles must be adhered to."

"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the tone of dignity and respect, they will get a response in the same language."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the conflict of restoration and recovery, the foreign minister said he was confident Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We gained many lessons from this engagement; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He added: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to eliminate, continues to exist. The installations and equipment, if eliminated, will be restored; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but were unable to shatter. The Iranian people have grown stronger, more integrated, and more backing of the leadership and the country in the aftermath of this attack."