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Iran is willing to resume atomic talks with Washington provided that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat said exclusively dialogue produced results, and revealed recent overtures had originated from intermediaries to restart discussions with the American leadership. He claimed Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Tehran was not yet able to permit the International Atomic Energy Agency to access struck enrichment centers for protective measures.

Walking a Challenging Path

Araghchi is treading a challenging path since Iran aims to avoid be perceived to be proceeding from a situation of vulnerability, and he emphatically stated that Iran had arisen stronger defensively and emotionally from the Israeli-US attack on its enrichment centers in June.

He was speaking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material within its borders that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the impasse in the previous talks.

Previous Talks Unexpectedly Concluded

The earlier sessions of discussions between the United States and Iran were ended suddenly and acrimonious conclusion on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, attacked Iran's enrichment centers in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with the American leader asserting the sites had been eliminated. Following this, European countries used their privilege to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Iranian officials claimed they felt they had reached a "magic solution" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, when it was settled an Iran-based consortium with US participation could enrich uranium. Each party would have been able to claim victory since home-based processing would have remained and the US could be assured that Iran's nuclear programme was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been settled in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a natural consequence of the cooperative offer. Diplomats asserted three times they had achieved a deal with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the agreement to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Existing Position

Iranian officials stated the partnership proposal was now off the table, but it seems highly likely the proposal could be resurrected in certain ways if discussions resume.

The US president last week claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but confidentially Iranian officials say they are not yet obtaining consistent overtures from Washington either explicitly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iranian foreign ministry has been accused of inactivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Tehran states diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Political Position

In his address to the forum, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the concept of worldwide standards, the foreign minister said the 12-day war revealed the dispute could not be resolved by armed force. He asserted the attacks commenced with a American requirement for an unconditional Iranian surrender and concluded with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is assured the first strikes by Israel were mounted with full US knowledge and cooperation, making trust difficult to rebuild.

Dialogue Stays the Ultimate Solution

Araghchi declared: "It was not Iran that had deserted negotiations; it was America and the Western nations that had repeatedly tried to enforce their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be viable and remains the primary resolution to address disputes, but its criteria, regulations and fundamentals must be respected."

"In case they address to the Iranian people with the approach of respect and honor, they will receive a reply in the same approach."

Repair and Reconstruction

In what is characterized by Tehran representatives as the battle of recovery and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been restored. We gained many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our own weaknesses and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He continued: "We successfully passed this war. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to obliterate, remains in place. The sites and equipment, if destroyed, will be rebuilt; what is crucial is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the social solidarity that they targeted, but did not succeed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more integrated, and more supportive of the government and the country in the wake of this attack."