🔗 Share this article Iran Says It Might Return to American Atomic Talks if Treated with 'Dignity' and 'Honor' Iran is willing to reinitiate atomic talks with the United States on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has declared. The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy was effective, and disclosed fresh requests had come from intermediaries to restart talks with the Trump administration. He said Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran could not yet permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for safety concerns. Walking a Difficult Route The foreign minister is navigating a difficult route since Iran does not want be seen to be proceeding from a stance of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June. He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium domestically that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the impasse in the previous talks. Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Ended The previous five rounds of talks between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that culminated with the American leader asserting the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states exercised their privilege to restore international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact. Perfect Agreement Suggested Tehran representatives said they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military. It had not been settled in the talks that US nuclear scientists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Diplomats claimed on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US". Current Status Iranian officials declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be reintroduced in various formats if negotiations reopen. The US president last week claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to restart talks, but in private Iranian officials claim they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, Egypt, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts negotiations is not part of a performance. Negotiating Stance In his speech to the forum, aimed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the idea of worldwide standards, Araghchi declared the 12-day war showed the dispute could not be settled by armed force. He asserted the strikes started with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and culminated with an absolute demand for a truce. Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were carried out with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making trust challenging to restore. Dialogue Remains the Final Resolution The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the European states that had always tried to dictate their demands during the talks. Dialogue can still be active and remains the primary resolution to address conflicts, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be respected." "Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the tone of dignity and honor, they will obtain a response in the equivalent language." Recovery and Reconstruction In what is described by Iranian officials as the conflict of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We learned multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the enemy." He continued: "We successfully passed this war. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to eliminate, continues to exist. The installations and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is crucial is the will of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they targeted, but did not succeed to break. The nation of Iran have developed stronger, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the face of this invasion."