By Titilope Adako
Iran has claimed that the United States’ recent airstrikes on its nuclear facilities caused minimal damage, as critical equipment and enriched uranium had already been relocated prior to the attacks.
US President Donald Trump had earlier confirmed that American forces launched a full-scale assault on three major Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan.
Announcing the offensive via his social media handles, Trump said, “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. All planes are now outside of Iran air space. A full payload of BOMBS was dropped on the primary site, Fordow. All planes are safely on their way home.”
Reacting to the development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US of sabotaging diplomatic efforts, labelling the strikes “criminal aggression” and a violation of international law.
“Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy. This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy. What conclusion would you draw?” he posted on X.
He continued, “To Britain and the EU High Representative, it is Iran which must ‘return’ to the table. But how can Iran return to something it never left, let alone blew up?”
Araghchi also described the strikes as a “grave violation” of the UN Charter and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), warning of long-term consequences.
“The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences. Each and every member of the UN must be alarmed over this extremely dangerous, lawless and criminal behavior,” he said.
He stressed that Iran reserved all options to defend its sovereignty and people, citing the UN Charter’s provisions on self-defence.
Iranian state media, including IRIB and Mehr News Agency, reported that the country had evacuated uranium stockpiles and sensitive components from the three targeted nuclear sites “some time ago.” This suggests that the American airstrikes may have failed to achieve their intended objectives.
The Hindustan Times also quoted Iranian sources as saying: “Enriched uranium stockpiles moved out of sites beforehand… U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuke infrastructure in vain? Tehran says it had evacuated sites earlier.”
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