Tehran Declares It Might Resume US Atomic Talks provided that Handled with 'Respect' and 'Respect'
Tehran is willing to resume nuclear talks with Washington on condition that it is handled with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.
Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy was effective, and shared new appeals had been made by go-betweens to resume talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to access attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.
Navigating a Challenging Route
Araghchi is walking a complex path since Iran does not want appear to be proceeding from a situation of weakness, and he emphatically stated that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.
He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material domestically that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.
Previous Negotiations Abruptly Concluded
The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the American leader asserting the facilities had been destroyed. Subsequently, European countries used their authority to restore international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a significant effect.
Ideal Resolution Proposed
Iranian officials stated they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.
It had not been decided in the talks that US nuclear scientists could work inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats asserted repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the arrangement to collapse due to "detractors in America".
Present Position
Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the offer could be revived in some form if talks restart.
Trump in recent days said he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to resume discussions, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from the United States either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of passivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran says negotiations is not part of a performance.
Diplomatic Position
In his speech to the gathering, aimed to depict the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of international law, Araghchi stated the 12-day war demonstrated the clash could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the strikes commenced with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an complete request for a ceasefire.
Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were executed with full US knowledge and cooperation, making trust difficult to restore.
Negotiations Stays the Final Solution
Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had repeatedly sought to enforce their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be active and continues the primary resolution to resolve conflicts, but its criteria, rules and principles must be followed."
"In case they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the identical language."
Restoration and Recovery
In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been reestablished. We gained numerous insights from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the opponent."
He added: "We successfully passed this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to obliterate, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to break. The nation of Iran have grown more powerful, more integrated, and more supportive of the government and the country in the wake of this invasion."