Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has admitted that recent U.S. airstrikes caused "severe and extensive damage" to the country’s nuclear facilities, marking Tehran’s first official acknowledgment of the extent of the destruction.
In an interview with *CBS News*, Araghchi said that facilities such as Fordow were “badly damaged,” and that they are currently “unusable” pending a full technical assessment by Iran’s nuclear safety agency.
Despite the setback, Araghchi emphasized Iran’s unwavering commitment to its nuclear program, asserting that “enrichment is a matter of national pride,” and stressing that the country’s technology is domestically developed and cannot be eliminated through airstrikes.
Responding to President Donald Trump’s claim that the facilities were “completely destroyed,” Araghchi said, “While the damage appears serious, the technology and expertise remain intact. We will rebuild quickly if we choose to do so.”
Although he ruled out an immediate return to negotiations with the United States, Araghchi stated that “the doors to diplomacy will never be closed,” but made clear that Iran demands guarantees against future military aggression during any talks.
Separately, Araghchi criticized European governments and the IAEA Director General for what he called “silent complicity” in the recent military escalation, warning that such positions could undermine diplomacy and escalate the crisis further.
He described the coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes as a “historic blow to diplomacy and the global non-proliferation regime,” while affirming Iran’s military readiness to respond to any future attacks.
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