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Tehran is ready to restart nuclear negotiations with Washington as long as it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and shared new appeals had originated from mediators to restart talks with the American leadership. He claimed Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet permit the global atomic watchdog to inspect struck enrichment centers for security reasons.

Walking a Challenging Route

The foreign minister is walking a complex path since Iran wishes not to appear to be proceeding from a stance of disadvantage, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had emerged more powerful defensively and mentally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Previous Talks Unexpectedly Ended

The earlier sessions of talks between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly 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 the US president asserting the sites had been destroyed. Following this, Western states used their right to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.

It had not been settled in the negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could work inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to collapse due to "opponents in the US".

Present Situation

Tehran representatives stated the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the proposal could be resurrected in certain ways if negotiations resume.

The American leader in recent days claimed he had been obtaining communications that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet getting clear proposals from the United States either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Position

In his address to the conference, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the clash could not be ended by combat operations. He said the attacks commenced with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and ended with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with full US knowledge and cooperation, making trust difficult to rebuild.

Dialogue Stays the Ultimate Answer

The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned dialogue; it was America and the European states that had always sought to impose their will during the discussions. Dialogue can still be active and remains the final resolution to address disputes, but its standards, regulations and fundamentals must be respected."

"Provided that they talk to the nation of Iran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a reply in the equivalent tone."

Recovery and Rebuilding

In what is described by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We acquired many lessons from this war; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He continued: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to obliterate, remains in place. The facilities and equipment, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but failed to shatter. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more cohesive, and more supportive of the government and the nation in the wake of this invasion."