Tehran Says It May Return to US Nuclear Negotiations if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Honor'
Iran is willing to reinitiate nuclear talks with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.
Abbas Araghchi stated exclusively dialogue was effective, and disclosed fresh requests had been made by go-betweens to restart negotiations with the US government. He claimed Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns.
Walking a Complex Course
The foreign minister is navigating a challenging route since Iran aims to avoid appear to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium domestically that it will never give up" – the main reason of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Previous Discussions Abruptly Terminated
The previous five rounds of talks between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the US president declaring the facilities had been obliterated. Following this, Western states exercised their privilege to reinstate UN-wide sanctions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Suggested
Iranian officials claimed they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been settled in the talks that US nuclear scientists could work on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated three times they had achieved a deal with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".
Present Position
Iranian officials said the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be resurrected in certain ways if discussions reopen.
The American leader in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to restart talks, but confidentially Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet receiving clear proposals 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 Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a show.
Political Position
In his speech to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a controlling nation that misuses the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the 12-day war showed the dispute could not be ended by armed force. He stated the strikes commenced with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making confidence challenging to restore.
Negotiations Stays the Primary Answer
Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned dialogue; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to enforce their will during the talks. Diplomacy can still be active and remains the ultimate solution to address conflicts, but its standards, guidelines and fundamentals must be respected."
"Provided that they address to the nation of Iran with the language of respect and honor, they will receive a answer in the identical tone."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is described by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and recovery, the foreign minister said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We learned many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."
He added: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to eliminate, remains in place. The sites and gear, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but did not succeed to break. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more integrated, and more backing of the leadership and the country in the wake of this attack."