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Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "respect", Tehran's foreign minister has declared.

The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy worked, and shared recent overtures had originated from mediators to resume negotiations with the American leadership. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Iran was not yet able to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect bombed nuclear sites for protective measures.

Walking a Difficult Course

Araghchi is navigating a challenging path since Iran aims to avoid be seen to be proceeding from a stance of vulnerability, and he insisted repeatedly that Iran had come out more resilient militarily and emotionally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reiterated that Iran had "a fundamental entitlement to process nuclear material on home soil that it will perpetually retain" – the key factor of the impasse in the previous talks.

Earlier Negotiations Suddenly Terminated

The prior phases of negotiations between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and bitter termination on 12 June when Israel, with US support, attacked Iranian nuclear sites in a 12-day war that culminated with Donald Trump asserting the facilities had been eliminated. Following this, EU nations employed their right to restore UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a substantial consequence.

Magic Solution Offered

Tehran representatives said they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in prior discussions, when it was decided an local partnership with US participation 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 atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the negotiations that American atomic experts could work within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the consortium proposal. Diplomats stated on multiple occasions they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff only for the deal to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Current Position

Iran's diplomats said the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if discussions resume.

Trump in recent days claimed he had been getting signals that Iran sought to restart talks, but in private Iran's diplomats state they are not yet getting coherent offers from the United States either directly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, Oman and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran asserts diplomacy is not part of a performance.

Political Stance

In his address to the conference, intended to portray the US as a dominant force that abuses the concept of worldwide standards, Araghchi said the 12-day war revealed the dispute could not be settled by armed force. He asserted the strikes commenced with a US demand for an complete Tehran capitulation and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

Iran is certain the initial Israeli attacks were mounted with complete American awareness and cooperation, making faith challenging to restore.

Diplomacy Remains the Ultimate Answer

The foreign minister said: "Tehran was not the one that had fled negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had consistently tried to enforce their will during the talks. Negotiations can still be active and continues the ultimate answer to resolve disputes, but its criteria, regulations and principles must be adhered to."

"Provided that they address to the Iranian people with the approach of respect and honor, they will obtain a response in the identical tone."

Recovery and Rebuilding

In what is described by Tehran representatives as the struggle of restoration and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's military capacities "are much stronger than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We gained multiple understandings from this engagement; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the enemy."

He stated: "We successfully passed this war. Our enrichment knowledge, which they planned to eliminate, stays intact. The sites and machinery, if destroyed, will be restored; what is important is the resolve of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have become stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the leadership and the country in the aftermath of this assault."