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Tehran is prepared to restart atomic discussions with Washington on condition that it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Iran's top diplomat has declared.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue produced results, and revealed recent overtures had originated from mediators to resume discussions with the American leadership. He said Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Difficult Course

The foreign minister is navigating a difficult path since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be acting from a position of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen more powerful defensively and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Prior Negotiations Suddenly Terminated

The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with Donald Trump asserting the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, EU nations used their right to reinstate international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Offered

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could work on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Representatives asserted repeatedly they had achieved a deal with the US representative the American negotiator only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".

Current Status

Tehran representatives stated the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the offer could be revived in some form if negotiations restart.

The US president last week claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to restart talks, but privately Tehran representatives say they are not yet getting coherent offers from Washington either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been charged of passivity in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran says dialogue is not part of a performance.

Political Standpoint

In his speech to the conference, intended to portray the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of international law, Araghchi stated the 12-day war showed the conflict could not be resolved by armed force. He said the strikes commenced with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were executed with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith hard to reestablish.

Dialogue Stays the Final Resolution

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly attempted to impose their will during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be viable and remains the final solution to address disagreements, but its criteria, regulations and tenets must be adhered to."

"In case they talk to the nation of Iran with the approach of respect and honor, they will receive a reply in the same approach."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the struggle of restoration and recovery, the foreign minister claimed he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this conflict; we have identified our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the adversary."

He added: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to obliterate, remains in place. The sites and machinery, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is important is the will of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to break. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the country in the face of this invasion."