Iran’s nuclear program will bounce back despite heavy damage from last month’s US and Israeli airstrikes, a senior official said on Thursday, as Iran prepares for renewed nuclear talks with Europe on Friday.
“The nuclear industry in our country is firmly established. Pressure and attacks cannot uproot it. It will flourish again,” said Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization.
His remarks come as Tehran prepares for renewed nuclear talks with Britain, France and Germany, under pressure from European powers threatening to trigger the UN snapback mechanism by the end of August if Iran fails to return to substantive negotiations.
The diplomatic pressure follows last month’s US-Israeli airstrikes on June 22, which targeted Iran’s key nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
President Donald Trump called the mission, dubbed Midnight Hammer, a success, saying the goal was to “completely destroy” Iran’s uranium enrichment capability. The Pentagon said the attacks, carried out by B-2 bombers and Tomahawk cruise missiles, delayed Iran’s program by one to two years.
Enrichment halted, Iran vows to rebuild
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with Fox News earlier this week that enrichment had stopped due to the “serious and severe” damage. “We cannot give up enrichment,” he told Fox News. “It is a question of national pride.” He added that the facilities were destroyed but said the program could be rebuilt because the technology and scientists remain in place.
The June strikes came after an Israeli missile barrage on June 13 triggered a 12-day war between Israel and Iran. A ceasefire was reached on June 24. The attacks also followed five rounds of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.
Despite operational setbacks, Iranian officials continue to emphasize the long-term durability of the nuclear program. “Buildings can be rebuilt. Machines can be replaced. The people who made them are still here,” Araghchi said.
Kamalvandi echoed that view on Thursday, saying the attacks may delay progress but would not derail Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “This industry will bloom again,” he said.
