Iran refuses to renounce uranium enrichment: ‘Matter of national pride’
“The damage is serious, but giving up enrichment is not an option. It is a performance from our scientists and now also a matter of national pride,” said Araghchi. The nuclear installations of Iran were hit in mid-June during a 12-day air war with Israel, involving the US.
Prior to the conflict, Washington and Tehran conducted five negotiation rounds on the nuclear program, without an agreement on the permitted enrichment levels. The US and Israel fear that Iran is close to the production of a nuclear weapon, something that Tehran firmly denies.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran is willing to continue talking to the US, although those conversations will not take place immediately. About the health of the highest leader Ayatollah Khamenei, he said that he is “good”.