- Iran confirms U.S. airstrikes destroyed parts of its nuclear facilities
- Tehran vows to rebuild and resume uranium enrichment
- Officials insist no deal will be accepted without right to enrich
Iran has confirmed that recent U.S. airstrikes successfully targeted and destroyed sections of its nuclear programme infrastructure, but the country says it will not abandon its right to uranium enrichment.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Iranian officials described the strikes as “aggressive and unlawful,” accusing the U.S. of attempting to pressure Tehran into abandoning its strategic goals.
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The announcement was made by Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, during a press conference in Tehran on Monday. He stated that while damage to key enrichment facilities was “significant,” Iran would not negotiate away its nuclear rights.
“We will rebuild every structure that has been damaged, and we will resume enrichment. That is our sovereign right,” Araghchi said.
The airstrikes, believed to have been ordered by former U.S. President Donald Trump shortly before leaving office, were aimed at halting Iran’s growing nuclear capabilities. Pentagon sources claimed at the time that the attacks were “pre-emptive measures” to delay Tehran’s ability to produce weapons-grade uranium.
Iranian state media aired footage of damaged centrifuges and destroyed sections of underground labs in Natanz and Fordow , two key nuclear sites. However, the footage also showed engineers working to restore power and machinery.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi described the attack as “an act of war” and vowed consequences if any further interference occurs.
“This is not 1953. We will not be bullied into submission,” Raisi said, referencing the CIA-backed coup that toppled Iran’s then Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
Analysts say the strikes have further strained relations between the two countries and could complicate future diplomatic efforts, especially if U.S. leaders continue to insist on stricter terms for any renewed nuclear deal.
Despite the damage, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation says low-level enrichment has resumed at an undisclosed location, and construction is already underway to rebuild parts of Natanz.
International reactions remain mixed. While the European Union urged restraint on both sides, Israel has praised the strikes, calling them “a step toward regional safety.”
Araghchi, however, said Iran would never accept a deal that excludes its right to enrich uranium for peaceful and research purposes.
“We are not seeking a nuclear weapon,” he said, “but we will not give up our right to progress.”
