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Iran is willing to reinitiate nuclear discussions with the United States provided that it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy was effective, and disclosed new appeals had come from intermediaries to reopen talks with the American leadership. He claimed Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Tehran could not yet permit the global atomic watchdog to access struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.

Walking a Difficult Route

The foreign minister is treading a complex course since Iran wishes not to be seen to be proceeding from a stance of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen stronger militarily and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was addressing at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the prior discussions.

Previous Talks Unexpectedly Terminated

The previous five rounds of talks between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that culminated with the American leader declaring the sites had been destroyed. Following this, EU nations exercised their privilege to reinstate UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an local partnership with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Representatives claimed three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Present Position

Iranian officials declared the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the offer could be resurrected in certain ways if discussions reopen.

The American leader last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to resume discussions, but in private Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from America either directly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of passivity in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Political Standpoint

In his remarks to the forum, aimed to portray the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of global regulations, Araghchi declared the 12-day war demonstrated the conflict could not be settled by combat operations. He asserted the strikes started with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an unconditional call for a ceasefire.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with total Washington understanding and cooperation, making trust challenging to reestablish.

Dialogue Stays the Primary Solution

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had deserted diplomacy; it was America and the Western nations that had repeatedly attempted to dictate their will during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be active and stays the primary resolution to resolve disputes, but its requirements, rules and tenets must be respected."

"Provided that they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the language of dignity and respect, they will obtain a reply in the equivalent tone."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is described by Iranian officials as the struggle of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We gained numerous insights from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."

He stated: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to obliterate, remains in place. The facilities and machinery, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but were unable to destroy. The Iranian people have grown stronger, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the state in the wake of this assault."