Daijiworld Media Network- Tehran
Tehran, Jun 27: In a major shift from previous denials, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has publicly admitted that the country’s nuclear infrastructure has suffered “significant and serious damage” following last weekend’s US-led airstrikes, officially dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer.
Speaking on national television, Araghchi stated, “The losses have not been small, and our facilities have been seriously damaged.” His admission marks the first official confirmation from Tehran regarding the impact of the precision strikes that targeted nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, launched by US B-2 bombers using bunker-busting bombs.
The remarks starkly contrast those of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who in a pre-recorded message earlier dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claims of a successful strike as “exaggerated”. However, Araghchi’s tone was far more somber, underlining the extent of the damage and hinting at a possible withdrawal from cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Araghchi warned that Tehran may cut off IAEA inspections in response to what he called “a gross violation of sovereignty.” Referring to a law previously passed by Iran’s hard-line parliament and approved by the Guardian Council, he said, “We are obliged to enforce this law. Our relationship with the agency will take a different shape.”
In a signal of rising tensions, Araghchi added that a planned visit by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi “would not be welcomed” at this time. Iran has already hinted it may halt its compliance with monitoring protocols, further deepening concerns about transparency.
Iranian officials have not disclosed the current status of the country’s 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, an amount sufficient for nearly ten nuclear warheads. Nor has there been clarity on the fate of Iran’s advanced centrifuges—both factors key to assessing the true setback to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Meanwhile, Israeli and US intelligence agencies have affirmed that the strikes have severely degraded Iran’s enrichment capacity, with Brig Gen Effie Defrin stating the program has been “set back by years.”
Defending the operation, President Trump compared the strikes to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, stating, “That ended that war. This ended the war.” Trump added that the goal was to end hostilities quickly, not to provoke regime change, echoing his earlier stance during the 12-day conflict.
Despite the high tension, the White House remains cautiously optimistic, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reaffirming America’s commitment to diplomacy. “The president wants peace. He always has… and we’re on a diplomatic path with Iran,” she said.
Indirect talks between the US and Iran are tentatively scheduled for next week, with special envoy Steve Witkoff continuing back-channel negotiations facilitated by Qatar and other regional players.
Commenting on the situation, Sina Azodi, a researcher at George Washington University, said, “Iran wants to keep everything in the dark... it’s a diplomatic poker game.” The lack of clarity, he suggests, is part of a larger strategy to buy time and reassess leverage post-conflict.
However, Araghchi issued a warning to the international community: “Going through a war changes many realities. Diplomacy must now adjust to these new realities.”
As global powers await Tehran’s next move, the future of nuclear oversight and regional stability remains precariously balanced.