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Tehran is ready to reinitiate nuclear talks with the United States provided that it is approached with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy was effective, and disclosed recent overtures had originated from intermediaries to reopen discussions with the Trump administration. He said Iran did not have undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran could not yet allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to access struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Navigating a Difficult Route

Araghchi is walking a complex course since Iran does not want be perceived to be acting from a stance of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more resilient in military terms and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.

He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.

Earlier Negotiations Abruptly Ended

The earlier sessions of talks between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader declaring the facilities had been destroyed. Following this, European countries used their authority to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.

Magic Solution Suggested

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could process nuclear material. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since local refinement would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the talks that Washington's technical specialists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Representatives claimed repeatedly they had achieved a deal with the US representative the American negotiator only for the agreement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".

Existing Position

Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be revived in some form if discussions reopen.

The American leader recently claimed he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials claim they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from America either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of inactivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Stance

In his remarks to the gathering, designed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that misuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict demonstrated the clash could not be ended by combat operations. He said the assaults started with a US demand for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a ceasefire.

Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were mounted with complete American awareness and coordination, making confidence challenging to restore.

Dialogue Stays the Primary Solution

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had fled diplomacy; it was the United States and the European states that had consistently sought to impose their will during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be alive and remains the final answer to resolve disagreements, but its standards, rules and principles must be respected."

"In case they speak to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will receive a reply in the equivalent language."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We gained many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He continued: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to eliminate, stays intact. The facilities and gear, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the will of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to destroy. The Iranian people have grown more resilient, more united, and more backing of the leadership and the state in the wake of this invasion."