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Iran is ready to reinitiate atomic negotiations with the United States as long as it is treated with "respect" and "respect", Iran's foreign minister has announced.

Abbas Araghchi stated only diplomacy produced results, and shared fresh requests had come from mediators to resume discussions with the US government. He asserted Iran possessed no 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 Difficult Path

The foreign minister is treading a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be acting from a stance of disadvantage, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more resilient militarily and mentally from the joint assault on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material domestically that it will always maintain" – the primary cause of the impasse in the earlier negotiations.

Earlier Discussions Suddenly Concluded

The previous five rounds of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and acrimonious end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that concluded with the American leader claiming the locations had been obliterated. Subsequently, Western states employed their authority to restore global restrictions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Suggested

Tehran representatives said they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was decided 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 certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.

It had not been decided in the negotiations that American atomic experts could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats claimed three times they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Existing Status

Tehran representatives said the partnership proposal was now withdrawn, but it seems quite possible the proposal could be reintroduced in some form if discussions resume.

The US president last week said he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but privately Iranian officials state they are not yet receiving coherent offers from Washington either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, Egypt, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of non-responsiveness in the face of Trump's direct instinctive approach, but Tehran says dialogue is not part of a show.

Diplomatic Position

In his speech to the gathering, intended to portray the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the concept of global regulations, the foreign minister declared the 12-day war demonstrated the dispute could not be resolved by military means. He asserted the strikes started with a US demand for an total Iran submission and culminated with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were carried out with full US knowledge and collaboration, making confidence hard to reestablish.

Dialogue Stays the Primary Solution

Araghchi stated: "Tehran was not the one that had fled negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had repeatedly sought to impose their demands during the discussions. Negotiations can still be viable and remains the ultimate answer to resolve disputes, but its standards, guidelines and principles must be adhered to."

"Provided that they address to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of respect and honor, they will get a reply in the equivalent approach."

Restoration and Recovery

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of repair and recovery, Araghchi claimed he was assured Iran's security strengths "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We gained numerous insights from this war; we have come to know our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the opponent."

He stated: "We successfully passed this war. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and machinery, 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 sought to undermine, but did not succeed to break. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more integrated, and more backing of the leadership and the country in the face of this assault."