Image Credentials: Image Title: Iran Admits “Serious Damage” to Nuclear Sites After US-Israeli Strikes, Despite Supreme Leader’s Denials Source: (sora.chatgpt) Date: June 2025 Attribution: Created by AI-generated imagery (sora.chatgpt), it does not depict a real-world scene.
By Staff Writer International Desk with Agencies| June 25, 2025
Tehran, Iran — Iran’s foreign minister has acknowledged that recent coordinated US and Israeli airstrikes inflicted “excessive and serious” damage on the country’s nuclear infrastructure, contradicting earlier denials from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In a televised interview on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran is currently assessing the full extent of the damage to facilities at Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan, all of which were targeted during last week’s bombings.
“The damage is significant. We are evaluating the scale with our nuclear experts,” Araghchi said.
The admission comes just hours after Ayatollah Khamenei, speaking from an undisclosed location, dismissed the attacks as “ineffective” and insisted that Iran’s nuclear programme remains fully operational. He also accused US President Donald Trump of “exaggerating” the impact of the strikes, declaring that “no significant achievement” had been made by the attackers.
“Their bombs did not disrupt our programme,” Khamenei said in a rare audio message released through state media. “Victory is ours.”
A Divided Narrative
The stark contrast between the two officials’ statements has raised questions about transparency and the real status of Iran’s nuclear capabilities. While President Trump claimed the attacks “totally obliterated” three nuclear sites, a leaked Pentagon assessment suggests the damage may have only delayed Iran’s nuclear activities by a few months, not years as claimed by US and Israeli officials.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated the administration’s position on Wednesday, stating that intelligence showed “critical setbacks” to Iran’s nuclear ambitions, though he declined to provide specifics.
Diplomatic Fallout and End of Talks
Araghchi also confirmed there are no plans to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, effectively shutting down diplomatic efforts that had been stalled since Israel began airstrikes on June 13.
“No agreement, arrangement, or conversation has been made to restart talks,” Araghchi said. “We are evaluating what is in the interest of the Iranian people. Our diplomacy will take a new form.”
He declined to elaborate on what that new diplomatic approach might involve.
The Trump administration, according to CNN, has floated proposals to release $30 billion in Iranian assets and assist in building a civilian nuclear programme in a bid to revive diplomacy. But Iran’s shifting stance and internal developments are likely to complicate such efforts.
Parliament Moves to Cut Ties with IAEA
In a significant development, Iran’s parliament has approved a bill to terminate cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s nuclear watchdog. If enacted, the bill would block inspectors from accessing Iranian nuclear sites, further isolating Tehran and raising fears about the transparency of its nuclear ambitions.
This legislative move comes amid heightened regional tensions and global concern over nuclear proliferation.
Heavy Civilian Toll
The human cost of the conflict has also come into sharper focus. Iran’s health ministry reports that 610 people were killed during 12 days of Israeli airstrikes, while Israeli officials report 28 fatalities on their side from retaliatory attacks.
Israel has defended its strikes as a preemptive measure against what it claims are Iranian efforts to develop nuclear weapons, an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, maintaining that its programme is strictly for civilian energy purposes.
As the international community watches with growing alarm, the contradictory statements from Tehran’s leadership only deepen the uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear trajectory — and the fragile prospects for peace in a region on the brink.
Staff Writers at Open Chronicle produce in-depth, field-informed reporting on defense, diplomacy, cultural transformation, and global affairs. Known for clarity, accuracy, and analytical depth, they connect breaking developments to broader historical and strategic contexts. In addition to frontline journalism, Staff Writers also contribute to the Open Chronicle Encyclopedia, crafting authoritative entries that preserve critical knowledge and enrich public understanding.