Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Iran had no intention to give up on its nuclear enrichment program despite the severe damage it suffered during the 12-day war with Israel and the US, according to Reuters.
Araqchi also noted that the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities caused serious damage that halted Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities for the time being.
“Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged,” he said in an interview with the Fox News show “Special Report with Bret Baier,” set to air in full later on Monday.
However, Iran obviously cannot give up on enrichment because it is an achievement of its own scientists. “And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride,” Araqchi added.
Western powers have long accused Tehran of secretly enriching uranium for the sake of nuclear weapons.
On June 13, Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on Iran under the name of Operation Rising Lion. The military campaign targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities and killed top military commanders and nuclear scientists in an attempt to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program.
As a response, Iran launched a retaliatory wave of missiles against Israel and targeted Tel Aviv.
The US became directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran on June 22 after launching airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Crucially, Israel announced that it was hit by over 50 missiles during the 12-day war with Iran, resulting in 28 deaths. However, the real extent of the damage may never be known because of media restrictions.
The Israeli airstrikes on Iran killed at least 1000 people and injured approximately 4,900.
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