Tehran is prepared to resume nuclear talks with the United States on condition that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.
Abbas Araghchi declared only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had come from go-betweens to reopen negotiations with the US government. He said Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran was not yet able to allow the global atomic watchdog to access bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.
The foreign minister is walking a difficult course since Iran does not want appear to be proceeding from a stance of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen stronger in military terms and emotionally from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.
He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel domestically that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the prior discussions.
The previous five rounds of discussions between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, struck Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that ended with the US president asserting the sites had been obliterated. Afterward, EU nations exercised their privilege to restore global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.
Iranian officials said they felt they had achieved a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with US participation could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could function inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. 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 "opponents in the US".
Iran's diplomats said the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the proposal could be resurrected in certain ways if talks resume.
Trump in recent days stated he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to restart talks, but confidentially Iran's diplomats state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from Washington either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts negotiations is not part of a show.
In his address to the conference, aimed to depict the US as a dominant force that exploits the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the clash could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the assaults began with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an complete request for a ceasefire.
Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making confidence hard to rebuild.
Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly sought to impose their will during the talks. Diplomacy can still be alive and stays the primary answer to settle disagreements, but its criteria, rules and principles must be adhered to."
"Provided that they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and respect, they will get a answer in the same tone."
In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We learned many lessons from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the enemy."
He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to obliterate, remains in place. The sites and equipment, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the will of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but were unable to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have become more powerful, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the leadership and the country in the face of this attack."
Elena Hartwell is a multidisciplinary artist and educator passionate about fostering creative communities in London.