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Iran is willing to restart atomic talks with the United States on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat stated only diplomacy produced results, and disclosed recent overtures had been made by mediators to restart negotiations with the Trump administration. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to authorize the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect attacked atomic facilities for safety concerns.

Navigating a Complex Route

The foreign minister is treading a challenging route since Iran does not want be seen to be acting from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out stronger militarily and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was speaking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium on home soil that it will always maintain" – the key factor of the stalemate in the previous talks.

Previous Discussions Unexpectedly Terminated

The prior phases of discussions between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a 12-day war that ended with Donald Trump asserting the sites had been eliminated. Subsequently, EU nations used their right to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Offered

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an local partnership with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since domestic enrichment would have continued and the US could be assured that Iran's atomic project was entirely non-military.

It had not been decided in the negotiations that American atomic experts could function inside Iran, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Representatives stated three times they had reached agreement with Trump's special envoy the American negotiator only for the agreement to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Current Situation

Tehran representatives stated the consortium offer was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be revived in some form if talks resume.

The US president recently stated he had been receiving messages that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iran's diplomats state they are not yet receiving coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Negotiating Stance

In his speech to the gathering, designed to portray the US as a controlling nation that misuses the idea of international law, the foreign minister said the two-week conflict demonstrated the clash could not be resolved by military means. He said the strikes began with a American requirement for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a ceasefire.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with full US knowledge and coordination, making confidence difficult to reestablish.

Dialogue Stays the Final Resolution

Araghchi stated: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was the United States and the western countries that had consistently sought to enforce their desires during the negotiations. Dialogue can still be alive and remains the ultimate resolution to address disagreements, but its standards, rules and principles must be followed."

"In case they address to the Iranian people with the language of respect and honor, they will receive a answer in the equivalent tone."

Repair and Rebuilding

In what is described by Iran's diplomats as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are much stronger than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We acquired numerous insights from this engagement; we have discovered our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the enemy."

He stated: "We successfully passed this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they intended to destroy, remains in place. The sites and equipment, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is important is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the unity of the country that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more integrated, and more backing of the administration and the state in the aftermath of this invasion."