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Iran is prepared to resume nuclear discussions with Washington on condition that it is approached with "dignity" and "honor", Tehran's top diplomat has stated.

The Iranian diplomat declared only diplomacy worked, and shared fresh requests had originated from intermediaries to resume discussions with the American leadership. He said Iran possessed no undeclared nuclear sites, and Tehran had not yet reached a point to authorize the global atomic watchdog to visit struck enrichment centers for security reasons.

Navigating a Challenging Route

Araghchi is treading a complex path since Iran wishes not to appear to be proceeding from a situation of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out more powerful defensively and psychologically from the Israeli-US attack on its atomic facilities in June.

He was talking at a strategic meeting in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to refine atomic fuel within its borders that it will perpetually retain" – the primary cause of the stalemate in the previous talks.

Prior Discussions Abruptly Ended

The prior phases of talks between the United States and Iran were brought to an abrupt and hostile termination on 12 June when the Israeli government, with Washington's assistance, targeted Tehran's atomic facilities in a two-week conflict that culminated with the American leader declaring the locations had been destroyed. Following this, EU nations used their privilege to reimpose international penalties, but Iran insists they have not had a substantial consequence.

Perfect Agreement Proposed

Iran's diplomats stated they felt they had attained a "perfect agreement" to the enrichment issue in previous talks, when it was decided an Iran-based consortium with US participation could refine atomic fuel. Both sides would have been able to claim victory since local refinement would have continued and the US could be confident that Iran's nuclear programme was exclusively peaceful.

It had not been decided in the talks that American atomic experts could function within Iranian territory, but that was a natural consequence of the partnership suggestion. Officials stated three times they had reached agreement with the US representative the American negotiator only for the deal to collapse due to "detractors in America".

Current Status

Tehran representatives declared the consortium offer was now off the table, but it seems quite possible the offer could be reintroduced in certain ways if negotiations resume.

Trump last week claimed he had been getting signals that Iran desired to resume discussions, but confidentially Iranian officials claim they are not yet receiving clear proposals from America either explicitly or from significant local go-betweens, such as the Qatari government, Egypt, the Omani authorities and the Saudi kingdom. The Iran's state department has been charged of passivity in the aftermath of the US president's straightforward manner, but Tehran asserts dialogue is not part of a spectacle.

Political Position

In his speech to the forum, aimed to portray the US as a controlling nation that misuses the concept of international law, Araghchi stated the two-week conflict revealed the dispute could not be settled by combat operations. He stated the attacks started with a Washington's ultimatum for an complete Tehran capitulation and ended with an unconditional call for a truce.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were carried out with total Washington understanding and coordination, making faith hard to restore.

Negotiations Remains the Final Resolution

Araghchi said: "It was not Iran that had abandoned dialogue; it was America and the western countries that had repeatedly sought to impose their will during the negotiations. Negotiations can still be viable and remains the final solution to resolve disagreements, but its standards, regulations and principles must be followed."

"In case they speak to the citizens of Tehran with the tone of dignity and respect, they will obtain a answer in the same approach."

Restoration and Rebuilding

In what is characterized by Iranian officials as the struggle of repair and reconstruction, Araghchi stated he was certain Iran's military capacities "are much stronger than before 13 or 14 June of this year. All our capabilities have been restored. We learned multiple understandings from this war; we have discovered our own weaknesses and the weaknesses of the adversary."

He added: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our nuclear technology, which they intended to eliminate, remains in place. The facilities and gear, if eliminated, will be rebuilt; what is essential is the will of the citizens of Tehran and then the national cohesion that they aimed at, but failed to destroy. The citizens of Tehran have grown more powerful, more united, and more endorsing of the government and the country in the face of this assault."