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Tehran is ready to restart nuclear discussions with Washington on condition that it is treated with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi said only diplomacy was effective, and revealed recent overtures had originated from go-betweens to reopen negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to access bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Navigating a Challenging Course

The foreign minister is treading a challenging route since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be proceeding from a situation of weakness, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out stronger defensively and mentally 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 "a fundamental entitlement to enrich uranium within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the prior discussions.

Previous Discussions Abruptly Terminated

The earlier sessions of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that ended with the US president claiming the sites had been obliterated. Subsequently, EU nations used their privilege to reimpose global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a major impact.

Ideal Resolution Suggested

Iran's diplomats claimed they felt they had attained a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the talks that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the cooperative offer. Representatives claimed on multiple occasions they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the agreement to collapse due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Position

Iran's diplomats stated the consortium offer was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be reintroduced in certain ways if negotiations restart.

The American leader recently claimed he had been getting signals that Iran desired to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats claim they are not yet getting consistent overtures from America either straightforwardly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Tehran's diplomatic corps has been criticized of inactivity in the wake of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran says dialogue is not part of a performance.

Political Position

In his speech to the conference, intended to paint the US as a dominant force that misuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi said the two-week conflict showed the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He said the strikes started with a US demand for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a truce.

Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were mounted with complete American awareness and cooperation, making faith hard to reestablish.

Negotiations Stays the Ultimate Solution

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had always tried to impose their desires during the talks. Diplomacy can still be active and remains the primary solution to resolve conflicts, but its standards, rules and principles must be respected."

"In case they talk to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of respect and honor, they will get a response in the same language."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is described by Iranian officials as the struggle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister claimed he was assured Iran's military capacities "are considerably enhanced than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained multiple understandings from this engagement; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the enemy."

He continued: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to destroy, remains in place. The facilities and gear, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is important is the will of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but failed to shatter. The Iranian people have become stronger, more cohesive, and more backing of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this attack."