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Iran is willing to reinitiate nuclear talks with the United States on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed new appeals had been made by mediators to reopen talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran could not yet allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Complex Route

Araghchi is walking a challenging course since Iran wishes not to be seen to be operating from a situation of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had emerged stronger in military terms and emotionally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium within its borders that it will never give up" – the key factor of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Previous Negotiations Abruptly Ended

The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious termination on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that concluded with the US president claiming the facilities had been obliterated. Subsequently, EU nations used their right to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Offered

Iranian officials stated they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was settled an domestic cooperative with American involvement could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the consortium proposal. Representatives claimed three times they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Present Situation

Iranian officials said the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in some form if negotiations resume.

The US president in recent days claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to restart talks, but confidentially Iranian officials claim they are not yet receiving 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 criticized of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a performance.

Political Position

In his address to the gathering, designed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi declared the fortnight-long engagement revealed the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He asserted the attacks began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and concluded with an unconditional call for a truce.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were executed with full US knowledge and cooperation, making faith challenging to reestablish.

Dialogue Continues the Final Resolution

Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had fled dialogue; it was the United States and the western countries that had always tried to impose their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and continues the final answer to settle disputes, but its standards, regulations and principles must be respected."

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

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the battle of repair and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was confident Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired multiple understandings from this conflict; we have identified our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He stated: "We successfully passed this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they aimed to eliminate, remains in place. The installations and machinery, if damaged, will be restored; what is essential is the will of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to break. The nation of Iran have grown more powerful, more united, and more backing of the government and the state in the face of this attack."