In a revealing interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi admitted for the first time that several of Iran’s nuclear facilities were “seriously damaged or destroyed” following U.S. military strikes last month. The facilities impacted include Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, three critical sites in Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Araghchi stated that the extent of the damage is still under evaluation, acknowledging that Iran is currently unable to enrich uranium due to the severe destruction of its centrifuge operations and supporting systems. This admission aligns with U.S. defense assessments indicating that the June strikes effectively degraded Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, potentially delaying progress by up to two years.
The strikes, conducted by U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers and Navy assets, were described by Pentagon officials as “precision, multi-wave operations” targeting enrichment halls, energy supply facilities, and underground centrifuge cascades. Reports indicate the operation—codenamed “Midnight Hammer”—was among the most complex U.S. air campaigns against hardened targets since the Iraq War.
This disclosure underscores the escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran, coming amid broader regional instability and ongoing proxy conflicts in the Middle East. Analysts note that the Iranian leadership faces mounting pressure, balancing domestic unrest with strategic setbacks to its nuclear ambitions.
Despite the damage, Araghchi insisted Iran would “not abandon its nuclear rights” and vowed retaliation if provoked further. However, his statement confirms what intelligence sources have hinted for weeks: Iran’s nuclear program has suffered a major setback.
