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Iran is ready to restart nuclear discussions with the United States on condition that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy worked, and revealed recent overtures had come from mediators to restart negotiations with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Challenging Route

The foreign minister is treading a complex route since Iran wishes not to be seen to be proceeding from a position of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the coordinated strike on its atomic facilities in June.

He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the previous talks.

Earlier Negotiations Unexpectedly Ended

The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that culminated with the American leader declaring the sites had been destroyed. Afterward, EU nations used their privilege to reimpose international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Perfect Agreement Offered

Tehran representatives stated they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was decided an local partnership with American involvement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could work on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives asserted three times they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the deal to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".

Current Status

Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the proposal could be revived in various formats if negotiations restart.

The US president in recent days claimed he had been getting signals that Iran desired to resume discussions, but privately Iranian officials say they are not yet getting clear proposals from Washington either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran says dialogue is not part of a show.

Political Standpoint

In his address to the forum, intended to depict the US as a dominant force that misuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi said the 12-day war demonstrated the conflict could not be ended by combat operations. He asserted the attacks commenced with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with full US knowledge and collaboration, making confidence challenging to rebuild.

Dialogue Remains the Final Answer

The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was America and the European states that had always sought to impose their desires during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the ultimate answer to settle disputes, but its requirements, guidelines and principles must be followed."

"Provided that they talk to the citizens of Tehran with the language of dignity and respect, they will receive a reply in the equivalent approach."

Recovery and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the struggle of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We gained numerous insights from this engagement; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the adversary."

He continued: "We effectively endured this war. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to obliterate, continues to exist. The installations and equipment, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the determination of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but failed to break. The Iranian people have become stronger, more integrated, and more backing of the leadership and the state in the wake of this assault."