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Tehran is prepared to restart nuclear talks with Washington on condition that it is handled with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy was effective, and shared fresh requests had been made by mediators to reopen negotiations with the American leadership. He said Iran had zero secret atomic facilities, and Iran was not yet able to allow the UN nuclear inspectorate to inspect struck enrichment centers for security reasons.

Navigating a Difficult Course

Araghchi is treading a difficult path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be operating from a situation of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had arisen stronger militarily and emotionally from the coordinated strike on its nuclear sites in June.

He was talking at a security conference in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "an inalienable right to enrich uranium on home soil that it will never give up" – the primary cause of the deadlock in the prior discussions.

Prior Negotiations Suddenly Ended

The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were concluded unexpectedly and hostile termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that concluded with Donald Trump claiming the facilities had been destroyed. Subsequently, Western states employed their authority to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran asserts they have not had a significant effect.

Magic Solution Offered

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was agreed an domestic cooperative with American involvement could process nuclear material. Each party would have been able to assert triumph since home-based processing would have persisted and the US could be confident that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.

It had not been agreed in the discussions that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Representatives stated on multiple occasions they had reached agreement with Washington's diplomat the American negotiator only for the deal to fall apart due to "spoilers in Washington".

Existing Situation

Iranian officials declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be resurrected in some form if negotiations restart.

Trump last week said he had been obtaining communications that Iran wanted to reopen negotiations, but in private Tehran representatives say they are not yet getting clear proposals from the United States either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of passivity in the face of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a performance.

Diplomatic Stance

In his speech to the gathering, aimed to depict the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the notion of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the 12-day war revealed the dispute could not be ended by combat operations. He stated the attacks started with a US demand for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is convinced the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with full US knowledge and collaboration, making faith difficult to restore.

Diplomacy Continues the Ultimate Answer

The foreign minister declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted dialogue; it was the United States and the western countries that had always tried to impose their demands during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be viable and remains the primary answer to settle disagreements, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be followed."

"If they address to the nation of Iran with the tone of dignity and honor, they will receive a response in the identical approach."

Repair and Recovery

In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the conflict of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's security strengths "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been reestablished. We acquired multiple understandings from this war; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the opponent."

He added: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to destroy, remains in place. The facilities and machinery, if damaged, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the resolve of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but did not succeed to shatter. The Iranian people have developed stronger, more cohesive, and more supportive of the administration and the nation in the face of this attack."