Iran Defiant on Nuclear Enrichment Amid Devastated Facilities


Iran Defiant on Nuclear Enrichment Amid Devastated Facilities
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has declared that the country will not abandon uranium enrichment, despite recent U.S. and Israeli strikes that severely damaged its nuclear facilities. Speaking to the Financial Times, Araghchi insisted, “With zero enrichment, we don’t have a thing,” emphasizing that Iran’s nuclear program will continue, though he admitted the location of its enriched uranium stockpile is unknown after being relocated before June’s U.S. strikes. Current State of Iran’s Nuclear Program Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan were hit hard by U.S. and Israeli attacks starting June 13. The Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant, which produced uranium enriched to 60% U-235, was destroyed above ground, with underground centrifuges likely damaged by power disruptions. At Isfahan,...