Iran Says It Is Not Enriching Uranium at Any Site After June Strikes — Foreign Minister Signals Openness to Talks

TEHRAN — Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told visiting journalists on Sunday that Tehran is not currently enriching uranium at any location inside the country. The statement, delivered after strikes on Iranian enrichment facilities in June, was framed as a signal to Western governments that Iran remains open to potential negotiations over its nuclear program.

There is no undeclared nuclear enrichment in Iran. All of our facilities are under the safeguards and monitoring of the International Atomic Energy Agency. There is no enrichment right now because our enrichment facilities have been attacked.

Threats over access to bombed sites

When asked what conditions would be required for Iran to resume negotiations with the United States and other parties, Araghchi reiterated Tehran's insistence on its right to peaceful enrichment. He emphasized that Iran considers enrichment for civilian purposes an inalienable right and said the country would not relinquish that right.

Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told attendees at the same summit that Tehran has been warned against attempting to access or repair damaged facilities. Satellite imagery analyzed by the Associated Press since the June attacks shows no major reconstruction work at the Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz sites.

Our security situation has not changed. Every day we are being threatened with another attack. Every day we are told if you touch anything, you’ll be attacked.

Negotiations and international response

Before the June strikes, Iran had been enriching uranium up to roughly 60 percent purity — a technical step nearer weapons-grade material — after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018. Tehran maintains its program is peaceful, while Western governments and the International Atomic Energy Agency have said Iran operated an organized weapons effort until about 2003.

European governments have pushed a measure to reimpose U.N. sanctions on Iran, and the IAEA Board of Governors is scheduled to meet this week and may consider a resolution addressing Tehran’s cooperation with the agency. Araghchi said he remains open to negotiations if U.S. demands become more balanced, but criticized what he described as maximalist American positions that leave little room for equal dialogue.

Summit tone and domestic pressures

The gathering was hosted by Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies and titled “International Law Under Assault: Aggression and Self-Defense.” Iranian analysts at the conference presented Tehran’s perspective on the 12-day June conflict; some speakers praised Iran’s response and denounced Israel’s actions.

Photographs of children killed during the fighting were displayed at the summit, which took place in a building named for General Qassem Soleimani. Observers note Iran remains vulnerable after Israel damaged parts of its air-defense network, raising concerns about the risk of future strikes. At the same time, economic strain and social pressures — including tensions around mandatory hijab enforcement and fuel subsidies — continue to challenge Iran’s leaders.

The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.