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Tehran is ready to reinitiate atomic discussions with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has declared.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue worked, and disclosed fresh requests had been made by mediators to reopen negotiations with the American leadership. He said Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Navigating a Complex Course

The foreign minister is treading a complex route since Iran does not want be seen to be acting from a situation of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out stronger in military terms and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium within its borders that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.

Previous Talks Suddenly Terminated

The prior phases of discussions 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 12-day war that culminated with the US president asserting the sites had been destroyed. Following this, Western states used their privilege to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Proposed

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an local partnership with Washington's engagement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Diplomats claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the agreement to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US".

Current Position

Iranian officials declared the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be reintroduced in various formats if talks resume.

Trump last week said he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says negotiations is not part of a spectacle.

Diplomatic Position

In his speech to the conference, intended to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the idea of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict revealed the clash could not be ended by combat operations. He asserted the attacks started with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is certain the first strikes by Israel were executed with full US knowledge and coordination, making faith difficult to rebuild.

Dialogue Remains the Primary Solution

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned diplomacy; it was America and the European states that had repeatedly tried to dictate their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be active and stays the ultimate answer to settle disputes, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be respected."

"Provided that they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a response in the identical tone."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Tehran representatives as the struggle of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi said he was assured Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We acquired multiple understandings from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He stated: "We managed to survive this war. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to eliminate, continues to exist. The sites and equipment, if damaged, will be restored; what is crucial is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they targeted, but failed to shatter. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more integrated, and more supportive of the leadership and the country in the wake of this assault."