After Acknowledging "Heavy Losses".. Trump Threatens Iran with "Repetition" Amid Rising Nuclear Tensions

The extent of damage inflicted on Iran's nuclear program following US strikes is once again coming to the forefront. While this issue remains under evaluation by US intelligence agencies, despite previous American assurances that Iranian nuclear capabilities were completely destroyed, Tehran is now reiterating that the damage to its nuclear facilities was severe and heavy. This Iranian acknowledgment raises questions about the effectiveness of previous strikes and their true impact.

In this tense context, former US President Donald Trump commented on Tuesday on Iranian assurances made by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi regarding Tehran's refusal to abandon uranium enrichment. Trump explicitly threatened that Washington might "repeat the strikes" on Iran if necessary, indicating a potential escalation in the maximum pressure policy.

Araqchi confirmed severe damage from what he described as "US-Israeli bombardment" on its nuclear facilities, but at the same time stressed that Tehran "will not abandon uranium enrichment." This contradiction between acknowledging damage and insisting on proceeding with the nuclear program reflects the complexity of the Iranian position.

Araqchi told Fox News: "Our nuclear facilities were destroyed and suffered severe damage, and the extent of the damage is still under evaluation by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. But to my knowledge, it has suffered significant damage. I have no knowledge of what happened to the nuclear materials or the enriched uranium, as I said, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is handling the file and is currently in the evaluation phase." Regarding the issue of uranium enrichment activities, Araqchi noted that enrichment operations are currently halted due to the damage to the nuclear facilities, but he reiterated that Iran "will not abandon its uranium enrichment program, considering it a scientific achievement."

Despite the pessimism prevalent in Iran in recent days and officials' skepticism about holding immediate talks with the United States, Araqchi indicated his country's openness to conducting talks with Washington, but not directly at this time. This stance opens the door for indirect diplomatic channels, perhaps through mediation.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday that Tehran would hold nuclear talks with three European powers in Istanbul next Friday. These talks follow several rounds of nuclear negotiations held between Iran and the United States mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, before Israel launched its 12-day war against Iran on June 13. This complex context indicates that the Iranian nuclear file continues to fluctuate between military escalation and diplomatic solutions.