Iran Declares It May Return to US Atomic Discussions if Approached with 'Respect' and 'Honor'

Iran is prepared to resume nuclear negotiations with Washington provided that it is handled with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's top diplomat has stated.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy produced results, and shared new appeals had originated from intermediaries to reopen discussions with the US government. He asserted Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Difficult Path

The foreign minister is navigating a difficult path since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to process nuclear material domestically that it will perpetually retain" – the main reason of the impasse in the previous talks.

Previous Talks Suddenly Ended

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that concluded with the US president claiming the locations had been destroyed. Subsequently, Western states exercised their privilege to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Perfect Agreement Proposed

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in prior discussions, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing 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 negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats asserted three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Current Position

Iran's diplomats said the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the offer could be reintroduced in certain ways if negotiations reopen.

Trump in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a performance.

Political Position

In his remarks to the forum, designed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the notion of international law, the foreign minister declared the 12-day war demonstrated the clash could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the attacks commenced with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were executed with complete American awareness and coordination, making confidence hard to restore.

Negotiations Continues the Primary Answer

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly tried to enforce their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be viable and stays the final resolution to settle conflicts, but its requirements, rules and principles must be followed."

"If they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and honor, they will receive a answer in the same tone."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of restoration and reconstruction, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We learned numerous insights from this engagement; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."

He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if eliminated, will be restored; what is important is the determination of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but failed to break. The nation of Iran have developed more powerful, more integrated, and more endorsing of the leadership and the state in the wake of this invasion."

Samantha Barber
Samantha Barber

Lena Visser is een ervaren pedagoog en moeder van twee, die haar passie voor kindontwikkeling deelt via KindScopeNow.