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Iran is willing to reinitiate atomic talks with the United States as long as it is treated with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat stated exclusively dialogue produced results, and disclosed new appeals had been made by intermediaries to reopen negotiations with the US government. He claimed Iran had zero undeclared nuclear sites, and Iran was not yet able to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to visit struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Walking a Complex Route

Araghchi is walking a challenging course since Iran wishes not to appear to be proceeding from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient militarily and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was addressing at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an absolute privilege to process nuclear material on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Prior Negotiations Unexpectedly Ended

The previous five rounds of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the American leader asserting the sites had been obliterated. Following this, Western states used their right to restore global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Perfect Agreement Proposed

Iranian officials stated they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with Washington's engagement could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Officials claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the deal to disintegrate due to "opponents in the US".

Existing Position

Iranian officials said the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if talks restart.

The American leader recently said he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to resume discussions, but privately Iran's diplomats say they are not yet receiving clear proposals from the United States either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been criticized of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a performance.

Political Position

In his remarks to the forum, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the idea of international law, the foreign minister stated the two-week conflict showed the clash could not be resolved by armed force. He stated the strikes started with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were carried out with full US knowledge and cooperation, making confidence hard to restore.

Dialogue Stays the Final Resolution

Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had deserted diplomacy; it was America and the Western nations that had consistently attempted to enforce their demands during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be alive and continues the final solution to resolve disputes, but its requirements, rules and fundamentals must be respected."

"Provided that they address to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will receive a response in the equivalent language."

Repair and Recovery

In what is described by Iranian officials as the battle of restoration and recovery, Araghchi said he was confident Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We acquired many lessons from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He added: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to destroy, stays intact. The installations and machinery, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but were unable to shatter. The nation of Iran have developed stronger, more integrated, and more endorsing of the leadership and the nation in the wake of this assault."