Iran Confirms Heavy Damage to Fordow Site, Vows to Restore Nuclear Capabilities

TEHRAN — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed on Tuesday that the Fordow nuclear facility sustained “serious and heavy damage” following recent U.S. airstrikes, but insisted that Iran retains the scientific and technological capacity to restore its nuclear program quickly. His remarks came during an interview with CBS News, amid growing international concern over the escalation between Washington and Tehran.

Araqchi stated that while the full extent of the damage is still under assessment by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, initial findings confirm the strike’s severity. “No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged,” he said. The U.S. had claimed the site was “obliterated,” a characterization later softened by Pentagon officials.

Despite the physical destruction, Araqchi stressed that Iran’s enrichment capabilities are not dependent solely on infrastructure. “If there is this will on our part—and the will exists there—we will be able to expeditiously repair the damages and make up for the lost time,” he said. He emphasized that the technology and scientific knowledge behind uranium enrichment remain intact and cannot be erased by bombs.

He reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program is purely peaceful, rooted in national pride and guided by a religious ban on nuclear weapons issued by Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. “We’ll definitely continue to convince the international community… that our nuclear program will remain absolutely peaceful,” he affirmed, highlighting both Iran’s scientific achievements and its resilience in the face of what he described as an “imposed war.”