Iran Says It May Resume American Nuclear Negotiations if Approached with 'Dignity' and 'Honor'
Tehran is willing to restart atomic discussions with the United States provided that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.
The Iranian diplomat stated only diplomacy worked, and disclosed fresh requests had originated from go-betweens to restart talks with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran possessed no secret atomic facilities, and Tehran could not yet permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for security reasons.
Navigating a Difficult Course
The foreign minister is walking a complex course since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen more powerful defensively and emotionally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.
He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the previous talks.
Earlier Discussions Unexpectedly Concluded
The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and hostile conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a 12-day war that ended with Donald Trump declaring the locations had been obliterated. Following this, European countries exercised their privilege to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.
Perfect Agreement Proposed
Iran's diplomats said they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.
It had not been decided in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Representatives stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the agreement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".
Current Situation
Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the proposal could be resurrected in some form if discussions restart.
The American leader recently stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but in private Tehran representatives say they are not yet receiving consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been accused of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran states negotiations is not part of a performance.
Negotiating Stance
In his remarks to the gathering, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister stated the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be settled by combat operations. He asserted the strikes commenced with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and culminated with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.
Iran is assured the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with complete American awareness and collaboration, making faith difficult to rebuild.
Negotiations Remains the Final Resolution
The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the European states that had consistently sought to dictate their will during the talks. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the primary resolution to address conflicts, but its criteria, regulations and tenets must be adhered to."
"In case they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and honor, they will get a response in the same approach."
Recovery and Reconstruction
In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We gained many lessons from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."
He continued: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The sites and machinery, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but failed to shatter. The nation of Iran have developed more resilient, more integrated, and more backing of the government and the country in the aftermath of this invasion."