Tehran Says It Might Return to US Atomic Talks if Handled with 'Respect' and 'Honor'

Tehran is ready to resume atomic discussions with the United States on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue produced results, and revealed new appeals had come from intermediaries to restart discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Walking a Difficult Path

Araghchi is treading a difficult route since Iran wishes not to be seen to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out stronger in military terms and emotionally from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.

He was addressing at a strategic meeting 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 primary cause of the impasse in the previous talks.

Earlier Talks Abruptly Terminated

The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile termination on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that culminated with the American leader declaring the facilities had been eliminated. Afterward, Western states employed their privilege to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Suggested

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".

Current Status

Tehran representatives said the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in some form if talks restart.

Trump recently claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but in private Iran's diplomats say they are not yet getting coherent offers from Washington either directly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been criticized of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a show.

Political Position

In his address to the gathering, designed to depict the US as a dominant force that misuses the idea of international law, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement showed the dispute could not be ended by armed force. He said the strikes began with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with full US knowledge and cooperation, making confidence challenging to rebuild.

Negotiations Stays the Primary Resolution

Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had consistently tried to impose their demands during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be active and continues the ultimate answer to address disputes, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be followed."

"In case they speak to the Iranian people with the language of respect and honor, they will receive a response in the identical approach."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We learned many lessons from this war; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He continued: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to destroy, remains in place. The installations and equipment, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is important is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to destroy. The nation of Iran have grown more resilient, more integrated, and more backing of the leadership and the nation in the wake of this assault."

Christopher Hendricks
Christopher Hendricks

A lighting design specialist with over a decade of experience in smart home integration and sustainable technology.