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Tehran is willing to reinitiate nuclear negotiations with the United States provided that it is treated with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's top diplomat has declared.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue worked, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from intermediaries to reopen discussions with the American leadership. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Complex Route

The foreign minister is navigating a challenging path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be acting from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged more resilient defensively and emotionally from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will never give up" – the key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.

Previous Talks Abruptly Concluded

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that concluded with Donald Trump declaring the locations had been eliminated. Subsequently, European countries exercised their authority to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Offered

Iran's diplomats said they felt they had reached a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium 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 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 function inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Current Position

Tehran representatives said the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems very probable the suggestion could be reintroduced in certain ways if negotiations restart.

Trump last week stated he had been getting signals that Iran sought to resume discussions, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from Washington either straightforwardly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Negotiating Stance

In his address to the gathering, aimed to depict the US as a dominant force that misuses the notion of worldwide standards, the foreign minister said the 12-day war demonstrated the clash could not be ended by combat operations. He said the strikes started with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is convinced the initial Israeli attacks were executed with complete American awareness and coordination, making confidence difficult to rebuild.

Negotiations Stays the Primary Solution

The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had always attempted to impose their demands during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be alive and remains the final solution to settle conflicts, but its requirements, guidelines and tenets must be followed."

"Provided that they talk to the Iranian people with the language of dignity and honor, they will get a answer in the same language."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is described by Tehran representatives as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We learned numerous insights from this war; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He added: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and equipment, if eliminated, will be restored; what is important is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have developed stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the leadership and the country in the face of this invasion."