TEHRAN, Iran – July 22, 2025 – Iran today declared it would not abandon its nuclear program, including uranium enrichment.despite what its foreign minister described as "severe" damage from recent US strikes.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that while enrichment activities are currently "stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe," the nation views its enrichment capabilities as "an achievement of our own scientists" and a source of "national pride" that cannot be relinquished.
Recent reports, citing US intelligence assessments, indicate a more nuanced reality. While the Fordow facility sustained significant damage, potentially setting back its enrichment capabilities by up to two years, the impact on other key sites like Natanz and Isfahan appears to be less severe, with some reports suggesting only surface structures were affected. Officials acknowledged that deeply buried sections of these facilities were likely beyond the reach of even powerful "bunker buster" bombs used in the strikes.
The upcoming Istanbul talks mark the first direct engagement between Iran and the European "E3" (Britain, France, and Germany) since a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran last month, during which the US conducted its strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iran has consistently accused European signatories of failing to uphold their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 nuclear deal, particularly after the US unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei reiterated Tehran's position that Iran's reduction of its commitments was a response to Western non-compliance. He also strongly criticized the E3 for "providing political and material support to the recent unprovoked and illegal military aggression of the Israeli regime and the US," asserting they lack "any legal, political, and moral standing" to trigger "snapback" sanctions.
The European powers, concerned by Iran's increasing uranium enrichment (currently at 60%, a short step from weapons-grade 90%), have threatened to reimpose international sanctions through the JCPOA's "snapback" mechanism if significant progress is not made by the end of August. The 2015 agreement itself is set to expire in October.
The talks in Istanbul are expected to focus on lifting sanctions and addressing Iran's peaceful nuclear program. While Iran has indicated a willingness for diplomacy, it has also demanded guarantees against future attacks if discussions with the US were to resume, a prospect currently ruled out by Tehran.
