Iranian foreign minister acknowledges serious damage to nuclear plants

Iran's foreign minister has acknowledged that excessive and serious “in recent American and Israeli bombings were caused in the country's nuclear sites.

Abbas Arghchi told a state broadcaster Thursday evening that an assessment of the damage is being carried out by Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation.

But, just hours ago, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ajatolah Ali Khamenei, said the attacks did not undermine the country's nuclear programme. Khamenei was responding to US President Donald Trump's statement that the bombs had “completely destroyed” three nuclear sites, reports the BBC.

Khamnei said US attacks had not achieved “achieved anything significant”.

The Supreme Leader, who has been on the run since the start of the war with Israel on June 13th, insisted that Trump had replaced “the impact of” the bombings and declared victory over the US and Israel.

But Arghchi's comments create a different impression.

The foreign minister also said there were no plans to resume nuclear talks with the US. Iran cancelled a sixth round of talks planned when Israel launched its attacks.

In an effort to bring Iran back to the negotiating table, the Trump administration has discussed Iran's access to $30 billion to build a nuclear programme for civil energy production, easing sanctions and releasing billions of dollars in limited Iranian funds, CNN reported.

But developments in Iran could hinder such action.

On Wednesday, Iran's parliament adopted a bill to prevent co-operation with the global nuclear supervisor, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). If implemented, it means Iran is no longer committed to allowing nuclear inspectors in its countries.

Israel has said the offensive against Iran was necessary to prevent what it claims are Iranian plans to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran has always insisted that its nuclear programme is intended only for civilian purposes.

The US was directly involved in the conflict last weekend, hitting objects in Fordo, Nathanz and Isfahan, before Trump sought to mediate a ceasefire between Israel and Iran soon.

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said intelligence collected by the US and Israel indicated that attacks “significantly damaged the nuclear programme, delaying it by the years”.

A preliminary assessment stemming from the Pentagon downplayed the significance of the damage and said the US attacks delayed Iran's nuclear programme by just a few months. The flow of information has been rejected by the administration.

Iran's Health Ministry said 610 people were killed during the 12 days of Israel's air strikes, while Israeli authorities said 28 were killed in Israel./Periscopi/