Iran Says It May Return to American Nuclear Negotiations provided that Treated with 'Respect' and 'Respect'
Tehran is ready to resume nuclear negotiations with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's top diplomat has announced.
The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy produced results, and revealed recent overtures had come from go-betweens to reopen discussions with the American leadership. He said Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.
Navigating a Challenging Route
Araghchi is navigating a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be proceeding from a situation of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged stronger defensively and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.
He was addressing 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 key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Prior Discussions Abruptly Terminated
The earlier sessions of talks between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious termination on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with the American leader declaring the locations had been destroyed. Following this, EU nations used their privilege to reinstate UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.
Perfect Agreement Offered
Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.
It had not been decided in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could work on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with the US representative the US official only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".
Existing Situation
Iranian officials declared the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if discussions resume.
The American leader recently stated he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials say they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from the United States either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of passivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran states negotiations is not part of a performance.
Political Stance
In his address to the gathering, aimed to depict the US as a dominant force that exploits the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister said the 12-day war revealed the clash could not be settled by combat operations. He stated the strikes began with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a ceasefire.
Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were mounted with full US knowledge and cooperation, making faith hard to rebuild.
Diplomacy Stays the Ultimate Answer
Araghchi said: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted diplomacy; it was the United States and the European states that had consistently attempted to impose their demands during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be alive and remains the final resolution to resolve disagreements, but its criteria, regulations and fundamentals must be followed."
"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and honor, they will get a response in the identical tone."
Repair and Recovery
In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of recovery and reconstruction, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We learned multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."
He added: "We successfully passed this war. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to obliterate, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is crucial is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the government and the nation in the face of this invasion."