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Iran is prepared to restart atomic discussions with Washington as long as it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat said solely negotiations was effective, and disclosed fresh requests had come from intermediaries to restart talks with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran possessed no unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Walking a Difficult Path

Araghchi is treading a complex course since Iran does not want be perceived to be operating from a position of weakness, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen more powerful militarily and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the stalemate in the earlier negotiations.

Prior Negotiations Unexpectedly Concluded

The prior phases of discussions between the United States and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader declaring the sites had been eliminated. Following this, EU nations used their authority to restore global restrictions, but Iran maintains they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with US participation could enrich uranium. Both sides would have been able to declare success since local refinement would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been settled in the negotiations that US nuclear scientists could work within Iranian territory, but that was a reasonable assumption of the cooperative offer. Diplomats asserted repeatedly they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Existing Position

Iran's diplomats declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be revived in some form if discussions reopen.

The American leader last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Tehran representatives claim they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from the United States either directly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been accused of non-responsiveness in the wake of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran states diplomacy is not part of a show.

Negotiating Stance

In his address to the gathering, designed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the notion of international law, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict revealed the dispute could not be settled by combat operations. He stated the strikes began with a Washington's ultimatum for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were executed with complete American awareness and cooperation, making faith challenging to reestablish.

Dialogue Remains the Ultimate Resolution

Araghchi declared: "Tehran was not the one that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had always attempted to dictate their desires during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be alive and continues the ultimate resolution to address disagreements, but its standards, rules and fundamentals must be respected."

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

Restoration and Reconstruction

In what is described by Iranian officials as the struggle of restoration and reconstruction, the foreign minister said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We acquired multiple understandings from this conflict; we have identified our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He stated: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they planned to destroy, remains in place. The facilities and machinery, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they sought to undermine, but did not succeed to destroy. The nation of Iran have developed more powerful, more cohesive, and more backing of the leadership and the nation in the aftermath of this invasion."