Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, has confirmed his country will not give up its uranium enrichment program as a matter of “national pride” and scientific achievement, even as Iranian nuclear facilities experienced severe damage as a result of U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Araqchi confirmed to Bret Baier of Fox News’ Special Report, during a highly exclusive interview, that Iran’s nuclear sites were severely damaged following coordinated attacks last month, temporarily suspending enrichment operations but making clear they will resume once these facilities have been rebuilt. He made clear enrichment will resume once these are in place again and “cannot give up enrichment as it represents our scientists’ achievements and now more importantly national pride,” as per Yahoo and IRNA English media outlets as quoted by New York Post and Yahoo news services respectively. “We cannot give up enrichment because this achievement belongs to our scientists’ achievements – now more than ever,”
Iranian media and official outlets, such as Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) and Tasnim News, reported that Araqchi has highlighted this program as being essential for national dignity. IRNA English:
Rebuilding is feasible, he noted. Buildings, facilities and machines all can be renovated – underscoring Iran’s technical know-how and infrastructure capabilities to do this in New York Post’s words.
Araqchi rejected any notion of importing enriched uranium, citing how we are capable of producing it domestically: Mizzima +4 Tasnim News +4 Wikipedia
He reiterated Iran’s enrichment levels as being well below weapons grade: standard reactor fuel is being refined at less than 5% and up to 20% is available for Tehran Research Reactor, according to Tasnim News (+1) and New York Post (+1). “We never go beyond 90%,” he assured.
Araqchi expressed openness to indirect talks with the United States if they aim for a “win-win solution,” although direct negotiations remain unlikely at present. He indicated this by speaking to Al Jazeera and ElHuffPost.
He dismissed military strikes as ineffective: “There is no military option for our nuclear program” New York Post. Iran believes only diplomacy can resolve their nuclear impasse.
President Donald Trump quickly responded on social media by declaring the strikes successful and warning further action may follow if Iran continued their nuclear activities, according to The Sun and New York Post reports.
Meanwhile, in June the IAEA declared Iran “non-compliant” for the first time in 20 years – sparking international outrage over Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium enriched weapons.
However, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi later observed that Iran could resume enrichment within months and underlined that technical expertise cannot be erased by strikes.
Araqchi presented enrichment as a peaceful pursuit and matter of sovereignty; however, regional partners and Western powers remain deeply skeptical. European E3 nations (UK, France and Germany), currently holding nuclear negotiations with Iran, have stressed that any agreement must include restrictions on enrichment.
Now, with new diplomatic rounds scheduled soon and indirect U.S. engagement through Oman, the key question facing Iran is how it will retain enrichment while still receiving sanctions relief. Araqchi’s position demonstrates Tehran’s prioritizing nuclear autonomy–it believes strongly in this right being non-negotiable–yet with sites damaged and global pressure rising, Iran will have to pass an important test: rebuild trust while reinforcing nuclear dignity?