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Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country's enriched uranium stockpiles are trapped beneath debris from Israeli and U.S. attacks on nuclear facilities in June, raising new questions about the status of Tehran's nuclear program.
Speaking on state television, Araghchi disclosed that Iran is still assessing whether its nuclear materials remain accessible following the strikes. The revelation marks the first detailed acknowledgment from a senior Iranian official about the impact of the attacks on the country's nuclear infrastructure.
"Everything related to our nuclear materials is under the rubble caused by the attacks on the bombed facilities," Araghchi said during the television program. "Whether these materials are accessible and the status of some of them is currently being evaluated by the Iran Atomic Energy Organization."
The foreign minister indicated that once the assessment is complete, a report will be submitted to Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which will determine the country's next steps based on security concerns.
Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, though international monitors have expressed concerns about the level of uranium enrichment and Tehran's cooperation with oversight efforts.
Araghchi warned of a "definite" Iranian response if United Nations sanctions are reimposed on the country. "The form and type of this reaction will be determined by the Supreme National Security Council, as this issue has become one of the most important issues of the country's foreign policy today and falls specifically within the jurisdiction of the Supreme National Security Council," he said.
When asked about the possibility of Iran withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Araghchi suggested multiple options remain on the table. "From time to time, even the issue of withdrawing from the NPT has come up as one of the options, but the options of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not limited to just withdrawing from the NPT, and whichever option can best serve the country's interests will be decided," he said.
The minister also addressed a recent agreement signed with the International Atomic Energy Agency in Cairo, stating that no inspections are currently permitted and that future monitoring would require additional negotiations and approval from the Supreme National Security Council.
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