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Iran is willing to restart nuclear discussions with the United States on condition that it is handled with "dignity" and "honor", Iran's top diplomat has announced.

The Iranian diplomat said only diplomacy worked, and revealed recent overtures had been made by intermediaries to restart discussions with the American leadership. He claimed Iran did not have unreported enrichment locations, and Tehran could not yet authorize the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for protective measures.

Walking a Challenging Course

Araghchi is navigating a difficult course since Iran wishes not to appear to be acting from a stance of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and emotionally from the joint assault on its enrichment centers in June.

He was talking at a defense forum in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an absolute privilege to refine atomic fuel on home soil that it will never give up" – the key factor of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Prior Talks Abruptly Ended

The previous five rounds of discussions between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, targeted Iranian nuclear sites in a two-week conflict that concluded with Donald Trump declaring the sites had been eliminated. Afterward, Western states exercised their privilege to reimpose international penalties, but Iran maintains they have not had a major impact.

Magic Solution Proposed

Iranian officials claimed they felt they had achieved a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in earlier negotiations, 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 home-based processing would have remained and the US could be confident that Iran's atomic project was solely for peaceful purposes.

It had not been agreed in the discussions that US nuclear scientists could operate on Iranian soil, but that was a logical implication of the cooperative offer. Representatives asserted repeatedly they had achieved a deal with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the deal to fall apart due to "detractors in America".

Existing Situation

Iranian officials said the cooperative arrangement was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be resurrected in various formats if discussions reopen.

The American leader last week stated he had been getting signals that Iran sought to restart talks, but confidentially Iran's diplomats say they are not yet getting consistent overtures from Washington either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as Qatar, the Egyptian leadership, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The Iran's state department has been criticized of inactivity in the wake of the US president's straightforward manner, but Iran says diplomacy is not part of a show.

Political Standpoint

In his speech to the gathering, intended to paint the US as a hegemonic power that exploits the concept of international law, the foreign minister stated the fortnight-long engagement revealed the conflict could not be resolved by combat operations. He stated the attacks commenced with a US demand for an unconditional Iranian surrender and culminated with an unconditional call for a halt to hostilities.

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

Diplomacy Stays the Final Answer

The foreign minister declared: "Tehran was not the one that had abandoned negotiations; it was America and the western countries that had consistently sought to enforce their desires during the discussions. Diplomacy can still be viable and remains the final answer to settle disagreements, but its requirements, regulations and tenets must be adhered to."

"Provided that they talk to the nation of Iran with the language of dignity and respect, they will obtain a response in the equivalent approach."

Restoration and Recovery

In what is characterized by Iran's diplomats as the battle of repair and rebuilding, Araghchi stated he was confident Iran's military capacities "have significantly improved than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Every aspect of our defense have been restored. We gained multiple understandings from this war; we have identified our internal vulnerabilities and the vulnerabilities of the adversary."

He added: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they planned to obliterate, continues to exist. The sites and equipment, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the resolve of the nation of Iran and then the social solidarity that they aimed at, but were unable to break. The citizens of Tehran have become more resilient, more united, and more supportive of the leadership and the nation in the aftermath of this invasion."