Iranian FM: Uranium Enrichment a ‘National Pride,’ No Intention to Halt Program

Iran will continue enriching uranium despite international pressure, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed in a Fox News interview set to air Monday night.

During the conversation with anchor Bret Baier, Araghchi firmly dismissed American demands for Tehran to abandon its nuclear program, describing the enrichment efforts as deeply symbolic for the country.

“We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists,” Araghchi said. “And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride. Our enrichment is so dear to us.”

Araghchi admitted that US airstrikes last month had caused substantial damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but declined to elaborate on whether any enriched uranium remained unaffected.

“Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged,” he said, adding that Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization is still working to assess the full scale of the damage. For now, he confirmed, enrichment operations are on hold.

His remarks follow Iran’s announcement that it will hold talks with Britain, France, and Germany in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the nuclear issue.

Tehran is under increasing pressure as it approaches an end-of-August deadline, after which it may face further sanctions and arms embargoes if no agreement is reached. It remains unclear whether any future deal would involve the United States or only the European signatories.

The US will not participate in the upcoming Istanbul negotiations. Recent American strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities effectively ended indirect talks previously facilitated by Omani mediators.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy issued a warning last week, stating that European nations are prepared to impose “dramatic sanctions” on Iran within weeks if it fails to resolve questions about its nuclear intentions and refuses to permit UN inspectors to return.

In recent weeks, Iran halted its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following a 12-day flare-up with Israel that included unprecedented joint Israeli-American attacks on nuclear sites—further heightening Iran’s standoff with the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

Tehran argues that the IAEA board’s resolution last month—formally accusing Iran of violating its non-proliferation commitments—helped justify Israel’s recent military actions.