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Iran is prepared to resume atomic discussions with the United States as long as it is handled with "dignity" and "respect", Tehran's top diplomat has declared.

Abbas Araghchi said exclusively dialogue was effective, and revealed recent overtures had been made by mediators to restart talks with the Trump administration. He asserted Iran did not have secret atomic facilities, and Iran could not yet permit the global atomic watchdog to access attacked atomic facilities for security reasons.

Navigating a Complex Path

Araghchi is treading a challenging route since Iran wishes not to be perceived to be acting from a stance of vulnerability, and he consistently maintained that Iran had come out stronger defensively and mentally from the joint assault on its atomic facilities in June.

He was speaking at a security conference in Tehran where he reaffirmed that Iran had "an inalienable right to process nuclear material within its borders that it will never give up" – the main reason of the deadlock in the previous talks.

Previous Negotiations Suddenly Ended

The prior phases of discussions between the US and Iran were ended suddenly and bitter end on 12 June when Israel, with American backing, struck Iranian nuclear sites in a fortnight-long engagement that culminated with Donald Trump claiming the sites had been destroyed. Subsequently, Western states employed their authority to reinstate international penalties, but Iran asserts they have not had a substantial consequence.

Ideal Resolution Proposed

Iranian officials stated they felt they had attained a "ideal resolution" to the uranium processing matter in prior discussions, when it was agreed an local partnership with US participation could enrich uranium. The two nations would have been able to assert triumph since domestic enrichment would have remained and the US could be certain that Iran's enrichment initiative was entirely non-military.

It had not been agreed in the talks that US nuclear scientists could work inside Iran, but that was a reasonable assumption of the partnership suggestion. Officials claimed repeatedly they had secured an understanding with Washington's diplomat the US official only for the agreement to fall apart due to "opponents in the US".

Current Status

Tehran representatives declared the partnership proposal was now no longer available, but it seems highly likely the suggestion could be revived in certain ways if talks reopen.

The American leader last week said he had been receiving messages that Iran desired to restart talks, but in private Tehran representatives state they are not yet getting clear proposals from Washington either straightforwardly or from key regional mediators, such as the Qatari government, the Egyptian leadership, the Omani authorities and Saudi Arabia. The Iranian foreign ministry has been charged of non-responsiveness in the aftermath of Washington's unmediated tactics, but Iran states dialogue is not part of a performance.

Negotiating Standpoint

In his remarks to the conference, aimed to paint the US as a hegemonic power that abuses the idea of worldwide standards, Araghchi stated the 12-day war demonstrated the conflict could not be ended by armed force. He asserted the attacks began with a Washington's ultimatum for an total Iran submission and concluded with an complete request for a ceasefire.

Iran is assured the initial Israeli attacks were executed with total Washington understanding and coordination, making confidence challenging to rebuild.

Dialogue Remains the Final Resolution

The foreign minister stated: "It was not Iran that had fled negotiations; it was the United States and the European states that had repeatedly attempted to dictate their desires during the discussions. Dialogue can still be active and continues the final solution to resolve disagreements, but its requirements, regulations and principles must be adhered to."

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

Restoration and Recovery

In what is portrayed by Iran's diplomats as the struggle of recovery and rebuilding, the foreign minister stated he was certain Iran's defence capabilities "are considerably enhanced than prior to 13 or 14 June of this year. Our entire military infrastructure have been rebuilt. We learned many lessons from this conflict; we have discovered our personal limitations and the weaknesses of the opponent."

He stated: "We managed to survive this engagement. Our atomic expertise, which they aimed to destroy, stays intact. The facilities and machinery, if destroyed, will be reconstructed; what is crucial is the will of the Iranian people and then the national cohesion that they sought to undermine, but failed to shatter. The Iranian people have developed more powerful, more cohesive, and more backing of the government and the nation in the face of this attack."