Iran Refuses To End Nuclear Enrichment Despite U.S. Pressure

Iran has confirmed it will not abandon its nuclear enrichment program despite heavy U.S. pressure and the threat of escalating international sanctions. In an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier set to air Monday evening, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared that nuclear enrichment remains a matter of “national pride” for Tehran.

“We cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride,” Araghchi said in a clip previewing the interview. “Our enrichment is so dear to us.”

Araghchi also admitted that the recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities inflicted “serious” damage. “The extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organization,” he noted, adding that enrichment activities have currently halted due to the damage.

Key developments from the interview:

• Security experts warn Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in days and multiple warheads within weeks if it resumes enrichment at full capacity.

• Iran’s nuclear energy accounts for less than 1% of its domestic energy consumption, raising further doubts about the program’s civilian purpose.

• Tehran has rejected U.S. proposals to join a nuclear fuel consortium with nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, instead framing its program as a point of sovereignty.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei echoed that sentiment earlier this year, boasting, “The number of countries in the world that have achieved a complete nuclear fuel cycle is perhaps fewer than the number of fingers on a person’s two hands. We’re capable of producing nuclear fuel starting from the mine and all the way to the power plant.”

The international community is watching closely as Iran faces a looming end-of-August deadline to reach a nuclear agreement failure to do so could bring even harsher sanctions and arms restrictions. Negotiations with European powers (the E3: France, Germany, and the U.K.) are expected to resume this week, while talks with Russia and China are also on the agenda.

The U.S., however, has yet to resume direct discussions with Tehran following the strikes last month. Washington insists that any future deal must prevent Iran from developing weapons-grade uranium, a demand that Iran’s leadership continues to reject.

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