Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Monday in an interview with Fox News that the country’s nuclear facilities were “severely damaged” in Israeli and US strikes. He reiterated Iran’s position that it would not relinquish uranium enrichment on its own soil.
Araghchi confirmed that the extent of the damage to the nuclear facilities was “severe,” but said he had no information regarding the fate of Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
F-35 fighter jets against the backdrop of a satellite image of the Natanz facility. Photo: Reuters, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit Reuters, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
“Our facilities were severe hurt, and the extent of the damage is currently being assessed by our Atomic Energy Organization,” Araghchi said, adding that enrichment activities have been halted for the time being due to the strikes.
Despite this, the Iranian foreign minister stressed that Iran would not abandon uranium enrichment. “We cannot give up enrichment, because it is an achievement of our scientists. And now, more than ever, it is a matter of national pride,” he said.
Iran’s nuclear facilities (Archive), Photo: AFP
Araghchi reiterated Iran’s pre-war stance: An insistence on maintaining enrichment capabilities on its own soil – which was a key factor in the failure of previous negotiations.
Talks on Iran’s nuclear program with European signatories to the nuclear deal are scheduled to resume Friday, in what appears to be an attempt by Tehran to dissuade them from triggering the snapback mechanism that would reimpose UN Security Council sanctions.