Iran has declared a complete halt to its uranium enrichment activities at all sites across the country, citing devastating American airstrikes that targeted its nuclear infrastructure earlier this year.
Nuclear Facilities 'Attacked and Destroyed'
The announcement came from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a three-day summit in Tehran titled 'International Law Under Assault'. Speaking to the Associated Press, Mr. Araghchi stated unequivocally: 'There is no undeclared nuclear enrichment in Iran. All of our facilities are under the safeguards and monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency.'
He directly attributed the cessation of enrichment to military action, adding, 'There is no enrichment right now because our enrichment facilities have been attacked.' This confirms earlier reports from September, when Iran's nuclear chief, Mohammad Eslami, told Sky News that some facilities had been 'destroyed' in the unprecedented US strikes.
The Aftermath of the US-Israel Airstrikes
The attacks, which occurred in June 2025, represented a significant escalation. Three of Iran's main nuclear facilities - Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan - were targeted by US forces using powerful 30,000lb bunker-busting bombs. Satellite imagery analysed in the aftermath showed major damage, though the full extent was difficult to assess due to some facilities being buried deep under mountains.
This military action was part of a 12-day war between Israel and Iran, which began with Israeli airstrikes on June 13, 2025, and concluded with a ceasefire on June 23, 2025. The conflict had a severe human cost, with Iran reporting 627 deaths compared to Israel's claim of 28.
A Stalled Dialogue and Accusations
The fallout has extended beyond physical damage, effectively paralysing diplomatic efforts. Mr. Araghchi expressed deep scepticism about Washington's intentions, stating that its current approach shows no readiness for 'equal and fair negotiations'.
Echoing this sentiment, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh accused the US of using negotiations as a theatrical performance to pursue its wartime goals. Despite the breakdown, Iran's position on its nuclear rights remains firm. 'Iran's right for enrichment, for peaceful use of nuclear technology, including enrichment, is undeniable,' Mr. Araghchi asserted. He emphasised that this is an 'inalienable right' that Iran will never surrender.
The conference, which saw the Iranian government issue special three-day visas for foreign journalists, was held in a building named after the late General Qassem Soleimani. It served as a platform for Iran to present its narrative of the recent conflict and the ongoing challenges it faces, from decimated air defence systems to internal economic pressures that continue to test its government.
