Trump: We 'Obliterated' Iran Nuke Sites, 'Will Do It Again If Necessary'

By Kamaran Aziz

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday took credit for "severe" damage to Iran’s nuclear sites and warned "we will do it again, if necessary," after Iran's Foreign Minister confirmed in a U.S. television interview that the country's enrichment program is currently "stopped" due to the attacks.

Writing on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump directly quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s assessment of the damage and issued a fresh threat, while also criticizing U.S. media outlets.

“Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on the Iran Nuclear Sites: “Damages are very severe, they are destroyed.” Of course they are, just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary! As interviewed by Bret Baier," Trump wrote. "Fake News CNN should immediately fire their phony “reporter” and apologize to me and the great pilots who “OBLITERATED” Iran’s nuclear sites. CNN is a major ratings loser, as is MSDNC!”

The president's statement followed Araghchi's interview on Fox News' 'Special Report' with host Bret Baier, where the Iranian official detailed the impact of the attacks while vowing to rebuild.

Iran's Position: Damage, Defiance, and Diplomacy

In the interview, Araghchi confirmed the significant damage but insisted Iran would not abandon its nuclear ambitions, which he framed as a matter of "national pride."

"It is now stopped, because, yes, damages are serious and severe," Araghchi stated. "But obviously, we cannot give up our enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride."

While defiant, the Foreign Minister also stressed a preference for a diplomatic path forward. "Rest assured that we want to continue our enrichment, but, of course, we prefer a negotiated solution for that," he said.

Conditions for Talks and a New Deal

Araghchi said Iran is open to talks to de-escalate regional tensions but ruled out direct negotiations with the Trump administration for the time being.

"We cannot start these negotiations in a direct way. We still prefer indirect negotiations," he said, offering a "win-win solution" where Iran would provide confidence-building measures to prove its program is peaceful in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. He asserted he was "empowered to make a deal" but reiterated that Iran would not be deprived of its "legitimate rights, including enrichment."

Enrichment and Inspections

Defending Iran's indigenous enrichment program as a "scientific achievement," Araghchi addressed concerns over enrichment levels. He stated Iran remains committed to "below 5 percent" for power plants and has enriched up to 20 percent for its Tehran Research Reactor. He acknowledged a one-time increase to 60 percent "was after the sabotage in our nuclear facilities," but said he told negotiators Iran would "immediately go down if a nuclear deal is achieved."

Regarding the current state of the damaged sites, Araghchi said he had "no detailed information" on the enriched material but that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be informed. "We need a new modality because the facilities have been destroyed," he said, adding that allowing inspectors back to all sites would be "possible" on a "case by case" basis due to "safety and security concerns."

Message to the United States

In his message to the U.S., Araghchi appealed for diplomacy, referencing the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal. "Let's go for a negotiated solution," he said. "Maybe the current administration doesn't like that, but we can come to a similar deal, a better deal than that."

He concluded that a military option against Iran's program was ultimately futile. "Yes, facilities have been destroyed. They are severely destroyed. But the technology is there... Buildings can be rebuilt... Machines can be replaced, because the technology is there," he argued. "There is a negotiated solution for our nuclear program. We have done it once in the past. We are ready to do it once again."