Iran continues to be a thorn in America’s side. They still want to be seen as a threat on the world stage.
And Iran has made a nuclear announcement that’s left Pentagon officials scrambling.
Iran’s nuclear program suffered a major blow last month when U.S. missile strikes, ordered by President Donald Trump on June 22, devastated three uranium enrichment facilities. In a candid interview with Fox News’ Special Report host Bret Baier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the extensive damage.
“Our facilities have been damaged, seriously damaged, the extent of which is now under evaluation,” he said, later admitting, “The facilities have been destroyed.” The strikes have temporarily halted Iran’s ability to refine nuclear fuel.
Despite the setback, Araghchi vowed that Iran would rebuild and resume enrichment, emphasizing its importance to the nation’s identity. “It is now stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, but obviously we cannot give up our enrichment, because it is an achievement of our own scientists,” he declared.
“And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride.” He framed enrichment as a non-negotiable right, central to Iran’s sovereignty and scientific legacy.
Araghchi firmly rejected any nuclear deal with the Trump administration that would ban domestic enrichment. “If the goal is to make sure that Iran will never have nuclear weapons, that is achievable,” he told Baier.
“But if the goal is to deprive Iran from its rights, including the right of enrichment, I think we have, we have difficulty.” He reiterated, “Enrichment is now stopped because our facilities have been under attack, but any settlement for Iran’s nuclear program should include enrichment in the future, because that is our right. We can never give it up.”
The foreign minister expressed confidence in Iran’s capacity to recover, highlighting the nation’s self-reliant expertise. “It is developed by ourselves. It is an achievement by ourselves. The technology is there. The scientists are there, the people who have run these facilities are there,” he said.
“Buildings can be rebuilt. Facilities can be rebuilt. Machines can be replaced.”
He also dismissed military intervention as a viable solution, stating, “I think the recent attack proved that there is no military option for our nuclear program.”
When questioned about Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, Araghchi said he had “no detailed information” on whether it survived the strikes. He also rebuffed calls to reduce Iran’s ballistic missile production or end support for groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, which he claimed were fighting for “a just cause.”
On missiles, he added, “On our missiles, as I said, that is our most reliable means of defense.” “How we can disarm ourselves?”
“Who can [Iran] accept anything like that? So, we will never disarm ourselves.”
President Trump, responding to Araghchi’s remarks on Truth Social, celebrated the strikes’ success and lashed out at CNN for allegedly questioning their effectiveness. “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!” he wrote.
“Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony ‘reporter’ and apologize to me and the great pilots who ‘OBLITERATED’ Iran’s nuclear sites.”
Donald J. Trump Truth Social 07.21.25 08:01 PM EST pic.twitter.com/gwFXag2grF
— Fan Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 22, 2025
While Araghchi left room for diplomacy, he remained guarded. “We are open to talks [but] not direct for the time being,” he said. “If they are coming for a win-win solution, I am ready to engage with them.”
However, with Trump insisting that any nuclear deal must permanently end Iran’s enrichment activities, the path to negotiations appears fraught with tension.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
