Iran Declares It May Rejoin American Atomic Talks provided that Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Iran is ready to reinitiate nuclear negotiations with Washington on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has declared.
Abbas Araghchi stated solely negotiations produced results, and revealed recent overtures had been made by intermediaries to reopen talks with the US government. He asserted Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Iran had not yet reached a point to permit the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Navigating a Complex Course
The foreign minister is treading a difficult route since Iran wishes not to be seen to be operating from a position of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more powerful defensively and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to enrich uranium within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Previous Negotiations Suddenly Terminated
The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that concluded with the American leader claiming the locations had been destroyed. Following this, European countries used their privilege to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.
Perfect Agreement Proposed
Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could operate inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Representatives claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with the US representative the US official only for the arrangement to collapse due to "opponents in the US".
Existing Situation
Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the offer could be resurrected in some form if talks reopen.
The US president last week stated he had been getting signals that Iran desired to resume discussions, but privately Iranian officials say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from the United States either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states negotiations is not part of a performance.
Political Position
In his remarks to the forum, intended to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi stated the 12-day war revealed the dispute could not be resolved by military means. He stated the strikes commenced with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making trust hard to restore.
Negotiations Remains the Final Resolution
The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had fled dialogue; it was America and the Western nations that had always tried to enforce their will during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be active and continues the ultimate solution to settle disagreements, but its criteria, rules and fundamentals must be respected."
"Provided that they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and honor, they will receive a reply in the identical tone."
Repair and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We gained multiple understandings from this conflict; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."
He continued: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more united, and more supportive of the administration and the nation in the wake of this attack."