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Tehran is prepared to restart atomic negotiations with Washington on condition that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.

Abbas Araghchi declared only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from intermediaries to reopen discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns.

Navigating a Complex Path

Araghchi is walking a challenging path since Iran does not want be seen to be operating from a position of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and mentally from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.

Earlier Talks Abruptly Terminated

The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that culminated with the US president claiming the locations had been destroyed. Subsequently, Western states used their right to restore international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.

Perfect Agreement Suggested

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an domestic cooperative with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the talks that US nuclear scientists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Officials claimed three times they had secured an understanding with the US representative the US official only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".

Existing Situation

Tehran representatives declared the cooperative arrangement was now withdrawn, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be revived in some form if negotiations reopen.

The US president in recent days stated he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iranian officials claim they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from the United States either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been criticized of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says dialogue is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Position

In his speech to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a dominant force that exploits the notion of worldwide standards, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement demonstrated the dispute could not be resolved by military means. He asserted the attacks began with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and culminated with an absolute demand for a truce.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with total Washington understanding and collaboration, making confidence hard to restore.

Diplomacy Continues the Primary Resolution

Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned diplomacy; it was America and the western countries that had always attempted to enforce their will during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be active and stays the ultimate resolution to settle conflicts, but its standards, regulations and tenets must be adhered to."

"Provided that they speak to the nation of Iran with the language of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the equivalent language."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is described by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and recovery, Araghchi claimed he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We acquired numerous insights from this engagement; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He continued: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to obliterate, continues to exist. The facilities and machinery, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but did not succeed to shatter. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more united, and more supportive of the government and the nation in the face of this invasion."