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Tehran is willing to restart atomic discussions with the United States provided that it is approached with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has announced.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue produced results, and revealed fresh requests had been made by mediators to resume discussions with the American leadership. He claimed Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran had not yet reached a point to authorize the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Challenging Route

The foreign minister is treading a challenging course since Iran wishes not to be seen to be proceeding from a stance of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged stronger militarily and psychologically 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 inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the impasse in the prior discussions.

Prior Discussions Abruptly Concluded

The prior phases of negotiations between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with the American leader declaring the sites had been destroyed. Subsequently, European countries used their authority to reimpose international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Suggested

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.

It had not been decided in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the cooperative offer. Representatives stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with the US representative the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Existing Position

Iran's diplomats said the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems very probable the proposal could be revived in some form if discussions resume.

The US president in recent days claimed he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to restart talks, but confidentially Iranian officials state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of inactivity in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran states dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his speech to the conference, intended to portray the US as a controlling nation that misuses the notion of international law, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict showed the dispute could not be settled by armed force. He asserted the attacks began with a American requirement for an complete Tehran capitulation and concluded with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with complete American awareness and cooperation, making confidence hard to reestablish.

Negotiations Stays the Primary Solution

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted diplomacy; it was the United States and the western countries that had always sought to impose their demands during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be alive and stays the ultimate solution to address disagreements, but its requirements, regulations and fundamentals must be adhered to."

"In case they talk to the Iranian people with the approach of dignity and respect, they will get a answer in the equivalent tone."

Recovery and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of recovery and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been reestablished. We gained numerous insights from this conflict; we have identified our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the opponent."

He stated: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to destroy, continues to exist. The sites and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is important is the determination of the nation of Iran and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but were unable to break. The nation of Iran have developed stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the administration and the nation in the wake of this attack."