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Tehran is prepared to reinitiate atomic discussions with Washington as long as it is approached with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has declared.

Abbas Araghchi said only diplomacy was effective, and revealed new appeals had originated from mediators to resume discussions with the US government. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Tehran could not yet authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to inspect bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Difficult Route

The foreign minister is navigating a difficult path since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be proceeding from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen stronger militarily and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was addressing at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material on home soil that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Earlier Discussions Abruptly Terminated

The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and hostile end on 12 June when Israel, with US support, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that ended with Donald Trump declaring the sites had been obliterated. Following this, EU nations exercised their authority to restore global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Perfect Agreement Proposed

Iran's diplomats said they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been settled in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Officials asserted three times they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the proposal could be reintroduced in some form if negotiations reopen.

The US president in recent days claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Tehran representatives say they are not yet getting consistent overtures from the United States either directly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran states diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Political Position

In his speech to the conference, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the notion of global regulations, the foreign minister stated the 12-day war revealed the dispute could not be settled by armed force. He stated the strikes began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and ended with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making faith challenging to rebuild.

Diplomacy Stays the Final Resolution

Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had abandoned diplomacy; it was America and the European states that had always sought to enforce their desires during the talks. Negotiations can still be viable and continues the ultimate resolution to settle disagreements, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be respected."

"If they talk to the nation of Iran with the approach of dignity and honor, they will get a reply in the same tone."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the conflict of repair and recovery, Araghchi stated he was confident Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We acquired many lessons from this conflict; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He stated: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to eliminate, continues to exist. The sites and equipment, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but were unable to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have developed more resilient, more cohesive, and more backing of the government and the nation in the aftermath of this invasion."