Iranian nuclear installations have sustained “serious damage” at Sunday’s American bombing, says Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday. With that he makes a different tone than Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in a speech.
“There is a lot of damage, and the damage is serious,” Araghchi said on Thursday evening in an interview with the Iranian state television. He does not yet have an exact image. The Iranian organization for nuclear energy investigates the extent of the damage.
In recent days there has been much discussion about the extent of the damage to Iranian core facilities. According to US President Donald Trump, the Iranian atomic program “Totaal Destroyed” was after the American bombing on the installations in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. He states that the atomic program has been thrown back for years.
But within the American secret services there would be doubt about that, American media reported. According to a leaked report, the Iranian atomic program would only be delayed for a few months. The damage to the core facilities would be largely above ground.
Ayatollah Khamenei also claims that the attacks have not shut off the core program. That said the Iranian leader on Thursday during a speech, in which he also claimed the victory over Israel.
Senators US chat by ministers
On Thursday evening, US senators were briefed by defense minister Pete Hegseeth and foreign minister Marco Rubio about the bombing and their consequences. But the reactions of those senators afterwards do not make it clearer how great the damage is.
For example, many Republican senators estimate that Iran needs for years longer for the development of a possible nuclear weapon, CNN reports. Democratic senators saw little substantiation for the claim of a destroyed atomic program.
Iran satellite images give an insight: ‘Hill atom complex has been sagged’
Unclear whether uranium has been moved
It is also unclear whether Iran was able to remove the uranium from the bunkers for the bombing. Minister Araghchi said nothing about it in the interview.
Financial Times reported on Thursday on a provisional report to European governments that suggested that Irans Uranium stock has remained largely intact and would have been moved for the bombing. The International Atomic Agency (IAEA) also takes such a scenario into account. Trump claims that Iran has not been able to do that.
The installations are deep underground in bunkers, so that only the heaviest bombs can damage them. The United States is the only country that has such bombs available.
The US Army attacked the Bunkers on Sunday for fear that the Iranian core program was almost far enough to make nuclear weapons. A week before, the war between Israel and Iran started with Israeli attacks. Iran says it only uses the nuclear program for civil purposes.
No contact between Iran and US yet
In the interview, Araghchi opened the option to resume negotiations with the Americans about the Iranian core program. According to him, there has been no contact with the US. But according to Araghchi, the American attacks have made new conversations “complicated”.
Trump said on Friday that the Iranians are open to conversations. The president does not think that Iran has further nuclear ambitions, but wants researchers from the IAEA “or someone else we respect” do inspections in the country. The Iranian parliament adopted a law on Wednesday that suspends cooperation with the IAEA.
Trump said that he would “absolutely” bomb Iran again if information shows that the country can still enrich uranium until it is suitable for nuclear weapons.
Iranian Nuclear Facilities Suffered “Serious Damage” in the American Bombing on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Said on Thursday. With that, he strikes a different tone than ayatollah ali khamenei earlier in a speech.
“There is a lot of damage, and the damage is serious,” Araghchi Said Thorsday Evening in an interview with Iranian State Television. He does not yet have an exact picture. The Iranian Organization for Nuclear Energy is Investigating The Extent of the Damage.
There Has Been Much Discussion in Recent Days About the Extent of the Damage to Iranian Nuclear Facilities. Accordance to US President Donald Trump, The Iranian Nuclear Program Has Been “Totally Destroyed” After the US Bombings of the Facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. He states that the nuclear program has leg set back years.
But there would be doubt about that Within the American Secret Services, American Media Reported. Accordance to a Leaked Report, The Iranian Nuclear Program would only be delayed by a Few Months. The Damage to the Nuclear Facilities would be Largely Above Ground.
Ayatollah Khamenei also claims that the attacks have not shut down the nuclear program. The Iranian Leader Said this on Thursday Duration a Speech in which he also claimed Victory about Israel.
US Senators briefed by Ministers
On Thursday Evening, US Senators were briefed on the bombings and their consequences by, Among Others, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseeth and Foreign Minister Marco Rubio. But the reactions of those senators afterwards also do not make it clearer how great the damage.
For Example, Many Republican Senators Estimate that Iran Will Need Years Longer for the Development of a Possible Nuclear Weapon, Reports CNN . Democratic Senators Saw Little Evidence for the Claim of A Destroyed Nuclear Program.
Satellite Images Iran Give Insight: ‘Hill of Atomic Complex has collapsed’
Uncleear Whether Uranium Has Been Moved
It is also Still Unclear Whether Iran was Able to Remove the Uranium from the Bunkers Before the Bombings. Minister Araghchi Said Nothing about this in the interview.
Financial Times Reported on Thorsday on a preliminary report to European Governments that suggested that Iran’s Uranium Stockpile has remained Largely intact and would have Been Moved Before the Bombings. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is also Taking Such a scenario into account. Trump claims that Iran has not leg able to do so.
The Facilities are locationed in Bunkers Deep Underground, SO only the Heaviest Bombs Can Damage Them. The United States is the only country that has such bombs at its disposal.
The US Military Attacked the Bunkers on Sunday for Fear That the Iranian Nuclear Program was Almost Far Enough to Make Nuclear Weapons. A Week Earlier, The War Between Israel and Iran Begen With Israeli Attacks. Iran Says It Only Uses The Nuclear Program for Civilian Purposes.
No Contact Yet Between Iran And Us
Araghchi Left Open the Option in the interview to resume negotiations with the Americans on the Iranian Nuclear Program. Accordance to him, there has been no contact about this with the us. But accordance to araghchi, The American Attacks have “complicated” new talks.
Trump Said on Friday that the Iranians are open to talks. The President does not think that Iran Further Nuclear Ambitions, but he does because researchers from the iaea “or some Else we respect” to Conduct inspections in the country. The Iranian Parliament passed a Law on Wednesday That Suspends Cooperation with the IAEA.
Trump added that would “absolutely” Bomb Iran again if intelligence Showed that the country could Enrich Uranium to the point Where it is Suitable for Nuclear Weapons.