In an interview with CBS News, as reported by Hill on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Argchi admitted that the US bombing on Iran’s lead Fordo nuclear site has “seriously and heavily damaged”.
Argchi said in the interview, “No one really knows what has happened in Fordo. It is being said that whatever we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavy damaged.” He said, “We need to wait and see if they are able to resume or if they will be launched again,” he said.
According to Hill, Araghchi said that “the nuclear power organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran is currently evaluating and evaluating, which will be submitted to the government.” He spoke through a translator during the interview. The CBS did not specify whether the translator was provided by the network or not.
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s nuclear program has been “fully and fully distracted”. However, US officials admitted that a complete assessment of damage from last month’s military attacks would take time.
While intercepted Iranian communication has allegedly reduced the limit of damage, the Washington Post cited four persons familiar with the classified American intelligence, saying that a clear picture was still being made within government circles.
Addressing the ability to fresh nuclear dialogues, Araghchi told CBS News that the discussion remains an alternative, which provides American abstinence from further military action. He said, “To decide to rethink for us, we must first ensure that the US will not return to target us in a military attack during the talks,” he said. “And I think with all these ideas, we still need more time.”
However, Argchi said that “diplomacy doors will never be closed.”
As highlighting the hill, Trump said that on Monday he was not giving anything to Iran or being engaged in conversation, claiming that the country’s nuclear features were “completely oblivion”. However, White House press secretary Karolin Levit said that despite Trump’s public statements, American Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witchoff continues to continue direct and indirect communication with Iranian officials.
Asked about the recent assessment of Rafael Grosie, head of the United Nations Nuclear Watchdog, Iran “may resume uranium enrichment in a month’s case,” Argchi replied that Tehran was able to make “for lost time”.
“No one can despise technology and science for promotion through bomb blasts,” he said. “If it will be from our side – and the will is present – to make progress in this industry once again, we will be able to repair losses and make up for lost time.”
He stressed that although physical facilities can be compromised, “Technology and address are still there.”
As mentioned by The Hill, Argchi said that Tehran is still making internal assessment and policy plans before taking decisions on uranium enrichment efforts. He said, “We have done a lot for our enrichment industry. We have done a lot. Our people have taken a lot of birth,” he said.
He further stated that Iran’s peaceful nuclear program “has become a case of national pride and glory,” saying, “We definitely explain to the international community and the respective countries that our nuclear program will be absolutely peaceful.”
He said, “We have gone through a war imposed for 12 days in addition to all for this nuclear program. Therefore, people will not easily back down,” he said.
The United States and Israel have required Iran to attain nuclear weapons and to prevent their ballistic missile capabilities. While Iran insisted that its program is citizen in nature, it has enriched up to 60 percent of the level required for civil use and limited access to international inspectors.
Israel has claimed for intelligence that Iran was actively working towards making atomic bombs. The Israeli government has warned that it can take further military action if Iran tries to rebuild its atomic or missile infrastructure. (AI)