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Iran is prepared to restart atomic negotiations with the United States on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

Abbas Araghchi stated solely negotiations worked, and shared fresh requests had been made by mediators to resume negotiations with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to access attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Navigating a Complex Course

The foreign minister is walking a difficult path since Iran wishes not to be seen to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Prior Talks Suddenly Concluded

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that concluded with the American leader asserting the facilities had been eliminated. Subsequently, Western states exercised their authority to restore international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Suggested

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the talks that US nuclear scientists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives stated repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Current Status

Iran's diplomats declared the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be revived in some form if negotiations restart.

The US president in recent days stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but in private Tehran representatives claim they are not yet getting consistent overtures from Washington either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a performance.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his address to the conference, designed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the idea of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the 12-day war revealed the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He asserted the strikes started with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making faith challenging to reestablish.

Dialogue Remains the Primary Solution

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had fled diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently attempted to impose their will during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and stays the final solution to settle conflicts, but its criteria, regulations and fundamentals must be respected."

"If they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of respect and honor, they will get a reply in the equivalent approach."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of repair and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was certain Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We learned numerous insights from this conflict; we have identified our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He stated: "We effectively endured this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to obliterate, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but failed to break. The Iranian people have become more resilient, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the government and the country in the aftermath of this attack."