Iran’s nuclear facilities suffered “serious damage” from recent U.S. airstrikes, but the regime remains committed to resuming uranium enrichment once reconstruction is complete, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in an interview aired Monday.
Speaking with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Araghchi acknowledged the extent of the destruction caused by the June 22 strikes ordered by President Donald Trump, which targeted three major uranium enrichment sites.
“Our facilities have been seriously damaged — the extent is still being evaluated,” Araghchi said. “They have been destroyed, and we haven’t been able to refine nuclear fuel since.”
Despite the setback, Araghchi stressed that Iran will not abandon its nuclear ambitions, describing enrichment as both a scientific milestone and a matter of national pride.
“Yes, enrichment is currently stopped due to the damage,” he said, “but we cannot give it up. It is an achievement of our scientists and now, more than ever, it is a question of national pride.”
Araghchi also rejected any new nuclear deal that would prohibit uranium enrichment. While legal under international law for peaceful purposes, enrichment is also central to developing nuclear weapons.
“If the goal is to prevent Iran from having nuclear weapons, that is possible,” he said. “But if the goal is to deny Iran its rights — including enrichment — then we have a problem.”
He added that any future agreement must include the right to enrich uranium: “Enrichment is paused because of the attack, but it must be part of any settlement. We can never give it up.”
The interview aired shortly after Trump posted on Truth Social, celebrating the strike’s success and criticising media outlets for downplaying its impact.
“Iran’s Foreign Minister… ‘Damages are very severe, they are destroyed.’ Of course they are,” Trump wrote. “And we will do it again if necessary!”
Trump added: “Fake News CNN should fire their phony reporter and apologise to me and the great pilots who OBLITERATED Iran’s nuclear sites.”
Despite the destruction, Araghchi said Iran still has the scientific knowledge and personnel to restart the program.
“We developed the technology ourselves,” he said. “The scientists are still here, the teams are intact. Buildings and machines can be rebuilt.”
He added, “This attack proved there is no military solution to Iran’s nuclear programme.”
Satellite images from Maxar Technologies confirm extensive damage and visible craters at the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, one of Iran’s most heavily fortified nuclear sites.
When asked about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, Araghchi said he had “no detailed information” about whether it had been destroyed.
Araghchi also ruled out scaling back Iran’s missile programme or withdrawing support for militant groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
“They fight for a just cause, and we’ve always supported them,” he said. “As for our missiles — they are our most reliable defence. We will not disarm ourselves.”
While expressing a general openness to negotiations, Araghchi said Iran is not currently interested in direct talks with the Trump administration — unless it’s based on mutual benefit.
“We are open to talks — not direct, at least for now,” he said. “But if they come with a win-win approach, I’m ready to engage.”
Trump has repeatedly said that any future deal must ban uranium enrichment entirely and dismantle Iran’s missile programmes.
