Turin, 22 July (LaPresse) – Iran has reiterated that it will not abandon its nuclear enrichment programme. "We cannot give up enrichment because it represents an achievement by our scientists. And today, more than anything else, it is a matter of national pride," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with Fox News, stressing that the United States' main goal, namely to prevent Tehran from further developing a nuclear weapon by blocking all enrichment capabilities, is unlikely to be achieved, despite threats of heavy international sanctions. The minister confirmed that the damage inflicted on Iranian nuclear facilities by recent US attacks was ‘serious,’ although he declined to comment on whether any of the enriched uranium survived the attacks. ‘Our facilities have been damaged, severely damaged,’ Araghchi said. ‘The extent of the damage is now being assessed by our atomic energy organisation. But as far as I know, the damage is serious,’ he added, stressing that enrichment activity is currently completely suspended.
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