Iran Says Nuclear Sites Badly Damaged

Iran's foreign minister said the country's nuclear sites were badly damaged in US and Israeli airstrikes.

He told state TV that Iran is still checking how serious the damage is.

But Iran’s top leader, Khamenei, said the strikes did not stop their nuclear work. He said the US failed to hurt Iran’s plans.

The foreign minister gave a different view and said there are no plans to talk with the US again.

Talks were stopped when Israel attacked Iran.

He said the government is looking for what is best for the people. But he did not say what that means.

Meanwhile, Iran’s lawmakers passed a law to stop working with nuclear inspectors.

This could block a deal with the US to help Iran with peaceful nuclear energy.

Iran Admits Serious Damage to Nuclear Sites After Attacks

Iran’s foreign minister has confirmed that the US and Israeli bombings caused serious damage to nuclear facilities. He said Iran’s atomic energy agency is still checking the full impact.

Just before this, Iran’s top leader Ayatollah Khamenei said the strikes failed to stop Iran’s nuclear program and accused the US of exaggerating their success.

Khamenei, who has been in hiding since the war with Israel began, claimed the US achieved nothing important and said Iran had won.

However, the foreign minister’s words tell a different story. He said Iran has no plans to restart nuclear talks with the US, which were paused when Israel launched its attacks.

He explained that the Iranian government is reviewing what steps would benefit the people, and that diplomacy may take a new form. He gave no more details.

The US has suggested easing sanctions and releasing $30 billion to support Iran’s civilian nuclear program, hoping to bring Iran back to the table.

But on Wednesday, Iran’s parliament passed a law to stop working with nuclear inspectors from the IAEA, making talks more difficult.

Iran Acknowledges Heavy Damage to Nuclear Facilities, Signals Diplomatic Shift

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi admitted that recent US and Israeli strikes inflicted “excessive and serious” damage on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is currently assessing the extent of the destruction.

This acknowledgment contrasts with a statement made hours earlier by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who claimed the bombings had failed to impact Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He dismissed President Trump’s assertion that the attacks “totally obliterated” three nuclear sites, calling it an exaggeration and insisting Iran emerged victorious.

Araghchi also ruled out restarting talks with the US, which had been suspended when Israel launched its offensive. “There is no agreement or arrangement to resume negotiations,” he said, adding that Iran is evaluating its diplomatic path based on national interest.

He hinted at a shift in Iran’s approach to diplomacy but offered no specifics. Meanwhile, the US has floated offering Iran access to $30 billion in aid and the easing of sanctions, in exchange for a return to peaceful nuclear development.

However, developments inside Iran could derail these efforts. On Wednesday, the Iranian parliament approved legislation to halt cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which could end international inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites.

Israel maintains its strikes were essential to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Iran continues to insist its program is solely for peaceful, civilian use.

The US directly entered the conflict last weekend by striking key facilities in Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, and has since pushed for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.