Daijiworld Media Network – Tehran

Tehran, Jul 2: In a major revelation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that the Fordow nuclear facility, a central pillar in Iran’s atomic program, has suffered “serious and heavy damage” following recent US military airstrikes.

Speaking to CBS News in an exclusive interview aired on Tuesday, Araghchi stated, “No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged.”

The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, he added, is currently conducting a detailed assessment of the impact, and a report is expected to be submitted to the Iranian government soon.

While intercepted Iranian communications suggest attempts to downplay the extent of the damage, according to a Washington Post report citing classified intelligence, multiple sources within the US government believe the strike was far more destructive than Tehran admits publicly.

US President Donald Trump had earlier claimed that the strikes had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, although US officials have cautioned that a full damage assessment is still underway.

The attack on Fordow, one of Iran’s most secure and fortified nuclear enrichment facilities, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran, casting fresh uncertainty over the already fragile prospects of diplomatic engagement.