US strikes have halted uranium enrichment, Iran’s foreign minister says

US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last month caused “serious” damage that has halted the country’s uranium enrichment capabilities for the time being, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

“Our facilities have been damaged – seriously damaged,” Araghchi said in an interview  “Special Report with Bret Baier,” set to air in full later on Monday.

Tehran has no intention of abandoning its nuclear enrichment program despite the damage, he added.

“It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride,” the foreign minister said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country currently enriching uranium to 60 percent. That is a short step from the 90 percent enrichment required for a nuclear weapon.

Western powers have long accused Tehran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied this, insisting its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production.

Tehran and Washington had held five rounds of nuclear talks starting in April, but a planned meeting on June 15 was cancelled after Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering a 12-day conflict.

Israel launched a wave of surprise strikes on its regional nemesis on June 13, targeting key military and nuclear facilities.

The United States launched its own strikes against Iran’s nuclear program on June 22, hitting the uranium enrichment facility at Fordow, in Qom province south of Tehran, as well as nuclear sites in Isfahan and Natanz.