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Tehran is prepared to reinitiate nuclear discussions with Washington provided that it is handled with "respect" and "honor", Tehran's foreign minister has announced.

The Iranian diplomat stated only diplomacy produced results, and revealed new appeals had come from go-betweens to reopen talks with the American leadership. He claimed Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran had not yet reached a point to permit the UN nuclear inspectorate to access struck enrichment centers for safety concerns.

Walking a Difficult Course

Araghchi is treading a challenging route since Iran does not want be seen to be acting from a stance of disadvantage, and he emphatically stated that Iran had emerged more resilient defensively and psychologically from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.

He was speaking at a defense forum in Tehran where he restated that Iran had "an absolute privilege to process nuclear material on home soil that it will always maintain" – the main reason of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Previous Negotiations Abruptly Concluded

The previous five rounds of talks between the US and Iran were brought to an abrupt and acrimonious termination on 12 June when Israel, with Washington's assistance, struck Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that culminated with the US president claiming the sites had been eliminated. Subsequently, EU nations exercised their right to reimpose UN-wide sanctions, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Offered

Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "ideal resolution" to the nuclear fuel concern in earlier negotiations, when it was agreed an local partnership with American involvement could process nuclear material. Both sides would have been able to declare success since home-based processing would have continued and the US could be certain that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been decided in the discussions that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Representatives stated three times they had secured an understanding with Trump's special envoy the US official only for the arrangement to disintegrate due to "detractors in America".

Current Status

Tehran representatives declared the cooperative arrangement was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the suggestion could be revived in some form if talks restart.

Trump last week claimed he had been receiving messages that Iran sought to reopen negotiations, but in private Tehran representatives state they are not yet getting consistent overtures from the United States either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been accused of passivity in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran says dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Negotiating Position

In his address to the conference, intended to paint the US as a controlling nation that abuses the notion of global regulations, Araghchi said the fortnight-long engagement demonstrated the clash could not be resolved by military means. He stated the assaults started with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and concluded with an absolute demand for a truce.

Iran is certain the opening assaults from Tel Aviv were executed with full US knowledge and cooperation, making confidence difficult to restore.

Dialogue Continues the Primary Solution

The foreign minister stated: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was the United States and the Western nations that had always attempted to impose their will during the negotiations. Diplomacy can still be alive and stays the ultimate resolution to settle disagreements, but its standards, rules and tenets must be followed."

"In case they talk to the citizens of Tehran with the language of dignity and honor, they will get a answer in the equivalent tone."

Recovery and Reconstruction

In what is portrayed by Iranian officials as the battle of restoration and reconstruction, Araghchi said he was certain Iran's security strengths "are considerably enhanced than preceding 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been rebuilt. We learned many lessons from this conflict; we have come to know our personal limitations and the shortcomings of the opponent."

He stated: "We managed to survive this conflict. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to destroy, stays intact. The installations and equipment, if eliminated, will be restored; what is essential is the will of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but were unable to break. The Iranian people have grown stronger, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the state in the aftermath of this assault."