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Iran is prepared to resume atomic discussions with Washington provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

Abbas Araghchi declared only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had come from intermediaries to restart talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran had zero unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran was not yet able to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Walking a Complex Path

Araghchi is walking a difficult course since Iran wishes not to appear to be operating from a position of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen more resilient in military terms and mentally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material on home soil that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the prior discussions.

Earlier Talks Unexpectedly Terminated

The prior phases of talks between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a fortnight-long engagement that ended with the US president asserting the sites had been destroyed. Afterward, European countries employed their authority to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Suggested

Tehran representatives stated they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an Iran-based consortium with American involvement could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Diplomats stated repeatedly they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat Steve Witkoff only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".

Current Status

Iranian officials declared the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be revived in various formats if talks reopen.

The American leader recently said he had been obtaining communications that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iran's diplomats say they are not yet getting consistent overtures from the United States either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran asserts negotiations is not part of a spectacle.

Diplomatic Stance

In his speech to the forum, designed to paint the US as a dominant force that abuses the concept of international law, Araghchi stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the clash could not be settled by combat operations. He said the attacks commenced with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the first strikes by Israel were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making faith hard to rebuild.

Diplomacy Stays the Ultimate Answer

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had abandoned diplomacy; it was the United States and the Western nations that had repeatedly attempted to dictate their demands during the talks. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the primary answer to settle disagreements, but its criteria, rules and fundamentals must be adhered to."

"Provided that they talk to the citizens of Tehran with the approach of dignity and respect, they will obtain a reply in the same tone."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the battle of recovery and reconstruction, the foreign minister stated he was assured Iran's defence capabilities "have significantly improved than before 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained many lessons from this conflict; we have identified our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He stated: "We successfully passed this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they aimed to destroy, remains in place. The sites and equipment, if damaged, will be reconstructed; what is essential is the will of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but did not succeed to break. The citizens of Tehran have grown more powerful, more cohesive, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the aftermath of this attack."