Iran’s foreign minister has acknowledged that it has sustained “excessive and serious” damage to the country’s nuclear sites as a consequence of the recent bombings conducted by the United States and Israel. Abbas Araghchi informed a state broadcaster on Thursday evening that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is presently evaluating the extent of the damage.
However, merely hours earlier, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that the strikes did not impede the country’s nuclear program. Khamenei was addressing US President Donald Trump’s assertion that the bombs had “totally obliterated” three atomic sites. Khamenei remarked that the US attacks had failed to ‘achieve anything of significance.’
Iranian Supreme Leader Claims Victory over Israel and the US
The Supreme Leader, who has remained in hiding since the onset of hostilities with Israel on 13 June, insisted that Trump had “exaggerated” the impact of the bombs and proclaimed victory over the United States and Israel.
Araghchi’s statements present a different perspective. Further, he indicated that there are no current plans to reopen nuclear negotiations with the United States. Iran canceled a scheduled sixth round of talks following Israel’s initial attacks.
“I would like to make it clear that no agreement, arrangement, or discussion has been made to initiate new negotiations,” he stated. He also mentioned that the government is reviewing what is in the ‘best interest of the Iranian people,’ asserting that its diplomatic approach will adopt a “new form.” He did not, however, elucidate what this entails.
Will the US assist Iran in building a Civilian-energy Nuclear Program?
In an effort to facilitate Iran’s return to the negotiation table, the Trump administration has considered the possibility of assisting Iran in accessing $30 billion to develop a civilian-energy-producing nuclear program, easing sanctions, and unfreezing billions of dollars in restricted Iranian funds, as reported by CNN.
Recent developments in Iran may impede such efforts. On Wednesday, Iran’s parliament approved legislation to cease cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. If enacted, this legislation would result in Iran no longer being obliged to permit nuclear inspectors entry into its facilities.
US Strikes Damaged the Iran Nuclear Program – Hegseth
Israel has stated that its offensive against Iran was necessary to prevent what it asserts are Iranian plans to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes. The US engaged directly in the conflict last weekend, conducting strikes on facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan before President Trump attempted to mediate a rapid ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth indicated that intelligence gathered by the United States and Israel demonstrated that the strikes “significantly damaged the nuclear program, setting it back by years.”
A leaked preliminary assessment from the Pentagon minimized the impact of the damage, suggesting that the strikes only delayed Iran’s nuclear program by several months.
The administration has dismissed the authenticity of the leak. Iran’s health ministry reported that 610 individuals were killed during the twelve days of Israel’s air strikes, while Israeli authorities reported 28 fatalities within Israel.
