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Tehran is prepared to restart atomic discussions with the United States as long as it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy worked, and disclosed new appeals had originated from intermediaries to resume negotiations with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran could not yet permit the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Navigating a Challenging Route

The foreign minister is treading a difficult course since Iran does not want be perceived to be operating from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out stronger militarily and mentally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was speaking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the earlier negotiations.

Earlier Negotiations Unexpectedly Terminated

The previous five rounds of discussions between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with American backing, attacked Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that ended with the American leader declaring the facilities had been obliterated. Following this, Western states employed their privilege to reimpose international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a significant effect.

Perfect Agreement Suggested

Tehran representatives claimed they felt they had reached a "perfect agreement" to the nuclear fuel concern in previous talks, when it was agreed an local partnership with Washington's engagement could refine atomic fuel. The two nations would have been able to declare success since domestic enrichment would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was entirely non-military.

It had not been settled in the discussions that Washington's technical specialists could function on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the arrangement to collapse due to "detractors in America".

Existing Situation

Iranian officials declared the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if talks reopen.

Trump in recent days stated he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but privately Tehran representatives state they are not yet obtaining coherent offers from America either directly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been criticized of passivity in the face of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Diplomatic Standpoint

In his remarks to the conference, intended to depict the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister declared the fortnight-long engagement revealed the dispute could not be resolved by military means. He asserted the attacks commenced with a US demand for an total Iran submission and culminated with an complete request for a halt to hostilities.

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

Negotiations Remains the Final Resolution

The foreign minister said: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had consistently sought to dictate their will during the talks. Diplomacy can still be viable and continues the final solution to resolve disagreements, but its criteria, guidelines and fundamentals must be respected."

"In case they talk to the Iranian people with the language of respect and honor, they will obtain a answer in the same tone."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the battle of recovery and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We acquired numerous insights from this engagement; we have come to know our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the opponent."

He continued: "We effectively endured this conflict. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to destroy, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if eliminated, will be reconstructed; what is important is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but failed to shatter. The nation of Iran have become stronger, more cohesive, and more backing of the leadership and the country in the aftermath of this invasion."