US President Donald Trump on Monday (July 22) asserted that the American bombing had severely damaged Iran's key nuclear facilities, warning that Washington would attack again "if necessary." Trump's remarks came after Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, acknowledged the impact of the US strike, stating that the damage to his country's nuclear infrastructure was "serious and severe". However, he vowed that Iran would not give up on its nuclear enrichment program as it was now a "question of national pride." “It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously we cannot give up of enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride,” Araghchi told Fox News. "Our enrichment is so dear to us." Taking to his Truth Social handle, the US president said, "Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: “Damages are very severe, they are destroyed.” Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary!" Nuclear facilities 'seriously damaged': Araghchi Iran's foreign minister, in an interview with Fox News, admitted that the extent of the damage to his country's nuclear facilities was severe but refused to comment on whether any enriched uranium survived the strikes. "Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged," Araghchi said. "The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organisation." "But as far as I know, they are seriously damaged," he added. Araghchi has previously reiterated Iran’s position that it would not accept any nuclear agreement that blocks its right to enrich uranium. The United States, on June 22, joined Israel’s offensive against Iran and launched operation “Midnight Hammer” to target three nuclear facilities of Iran, namely Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, and the operation involved 125 US military aircraft, including seven B-2 Stealth bombers. About two dozen cruise missiles were also launched at the Isfahan nuclear site from a submarine by the US military. One of the major strikes by the United States was on Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, buried deep below a mountain outside Tehran, and is considered vital to Iran’s nuclear ambitions. At least 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators (MOPs) were dropped at the Fordow site. After the strikes, Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire brokered by the United States and Qatar, and the 12-day conflict between the two warring nations came to a pause on June 24. (With inputs from agencies)
