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Iran is willing to restart nuclear discussions with Washington provided that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat stated only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from go-betweens to restart talks with the Trump administration. He said Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to inspect bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Complex Course

Araghchi is navigating a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be acting from a stance of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and emotionally from the coordinated strike on its enrichment centers in June.

He was talking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material on home soil that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.

Previous Discussions Suddenly Concluded

The previous five rounds of negotiations between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that concluded with the American leader declaring the locations had been eliminated. Following this, EU nations used their right to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Suggested

Iran's diplomats said they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an local partnership with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.

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 partnership suggestion. Officials stated three times they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Current Situation

Iran's diplomats declared the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be revived in some form if discussions restart.

The American leader in recent days said he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet getting coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran asserts diplomacy is not part of a show.

Political Position

In his address to the conference, intended to depict the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the notion of international law, Araghchi declared the 12-day war revealed the conflict could not be settled by military means. He stated the assaults began with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were mounted with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making confidence difficult to rebuild.

Negotiations Remains the Ultimate Resolution

Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted dialogue; it was America and the European states that had consistently sought to impose their will during the talks. Dialogue can still be active and remains the primary resolution to resolve disputes, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be respected."

"In case they speak to the nation of Iran with the language of respect and honor, they will get a response in the equivalent language."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained many lessons from this conflict; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the adversary."

He continued: "We effectively endured this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to eliminate, continues to exist. The sites and machinery, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but did not succeed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have grown more resilient, more integrated, and more supportive of the government and the nation in the face of this attack."