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Tehran is willing to restart atomic negotiations with the United States provided that it is approached with "dignity" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has stated.

The Iranian diplomat stated solely negotiations was effective, and revealed recent overtures had been made by go-betweens to resume discussions with the American leadership. He asserted Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran could not yet allow the global atomic watchdog to visit attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Walking a Challenging Route

The foreign minister is walking a challenging course since Iran does not want be seen to be acting from a stance of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient in military terms and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its nuclear sites in June.

He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material domestically that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.

Prior Talks Unexpectedly Ended

The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that concluded with the American leader asserting the sites had been obliterated. Following this, EU nations exercised their right to reinstate global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a major impact.

Perfect Agreement Suggested

Iranian officials claimed they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with US participation could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to assert triumph since local refinement would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that Washington's technical specialists could operate within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats asserted three times they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to disintegrate due to "spoilers in Washington".

Present Situation

Iran's diplomats declared the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems very probable the offer could be reintroduced in various formats if discussions resume.

The American leader recently said he had been getting signals that Iran wanted to restart talks, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet obtaining clear proposals from Washington either explicitly or from important Middle Eastern intermediaries, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Stance

In his speech to the forum, designed to portray the US as a dominant force that exploits the notion of international law, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict revealed the dispute could not be ended by military means. He said the attacks started with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with complete American awareness and collaboration, making confidence challenging to reestablish.

Negotiations Stays the Final Solution

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had always sought to enforce their demands during the talks. Diplomacy can still be alive and stays the ultimate solution to resolve disagreements, but its standards, regulations and principles must be followed."

"In case they address to the Iranian people with the language of respect and honor, they will get a response in the identical language."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is portrayed by Tehran representatives as the battle of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We acquired many lessons from this war; we have discovered our internal vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He added: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our enrichment knowledge, which they intended to destroy, continues to exist. The installations and equipment, if damaged, will be restored; what is important is the will of the Iranian people and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but were unable to shatter. The Iranian people have become more resilient, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the state in the face of this assault."