Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister of Iran’s regime, told Fox News that despite attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran still has the ability to rebuild its infrastructure and resume enrichment, since the necessary scientists, technology, and equipment are still available to Tehran.
In the interview, Araghchi said buildings can be rebuilt and machinery replaced because they have technology. He added that, we have many scientists and technicians who previously worked at our facilities.”
He also added that when and how enrichment will be resumed “depends on the circumstances.”
Grossi Warns of Consequences of Attacks on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities
These remarks come after the United States, in its June attacks, targeted three key nuclear sites in Iran. According to reports, Israel also destroyed most of the regime’s air defense systems, eliminated several senior military commanders, and killed at least 13 nuclear program operatives and hundreds of others.
Israel has claimed that 30 senior security officials and 11 “top scientists” involved in the Iranian regime’s nuclear program were killed in these attacks.
According to Fox News, U.S. officials have said the attacks caused significant damage to the Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities, and that missiles fired at the Isfahan site have effectively disabled it. Washington claims these attacks have set the Iranian regime’s nuclear program back by several years.
Araghchi, however, insists that Iran still possesses the technology and human resources to rebuild its nuclear program and is relying on domestic capabilities. He also demanded compensation from the U.S. for the damages, saying the Americans must explain why they attacked “in the middle of negotiations” and must provide guarantees that such behavior will not be repeated in future talks. Araghchi said that they must compensate for the damages.
In another part of his interview with Fox News, Iran’s regime foreign minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that the recent attacks, known as the “12-Day War,” proved there is no military solution to halting Iran’s nuclear program. He also said these attacks have intensified internal calls within the regime to weaponize the nuclear program, though according to him, the regime still adheres to the two-decade-old religious decree (fatwa) by its Supreme Leader banning the production of nuclear weapons.
He reiterated that Iran will not back down from its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes and declared, without enrichment, they have nothing.
Uranium enrichment remains one of the central points of contention between the Iranian regime and the United States.
Meanwhile, European countries have threatened to trigger the snapback mechanism if no progress is made in the negotiations. Under the terms of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), the remaining signatories—France, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Russia—can activate this mechanism if they observe Iranian non-compliance. The United States, having exited the deal during Donald Trump’s presidency, currently does not have the authority to invoke this clause.
At the same time, the United States has imposed new sanctions on the Iranian regime’s oil network and the drone division of its army. European diplomats have also been engaged in talks with Tehran in recent days to find ways to prevent the reactivation of United Nations sanctions—one proposed path being Iran’s full return to cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the resumption of nuclear inspections.
Araghchi warned that if Europe triggers the sanctions, Iran will halt negotiations, stating that “this would mean the end of the road.”
