'Will Do It Again': Trump's Warning After Iranian Minister Says Won't Give Up On Nuclear Enrichment

Last Updated:July 22, 2025, 10:55 IST

Donald Trump warned the US may strike Iran’s nuclear facilities again, after Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi called enrichment a matter of national pride.

A file photo of US President Donald Trump (AP)

In a stern warning to Iran, Donald Trump has said the United States would again strike its nuclear facilities, “if necessary". The US President, in a post on his social media handle, Truth Social, also lashed out at broadcaster CNN, calling it “fake news".

The development came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Fox News that Tehran cannot give up on its uranium enrichment program, which he said was severely damaged during the Israel-Iran war last month.

“It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously, we cannot give up (on) enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists," the Foreign Minister said on Monday.

“And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," he added.

Araghchi said the damage to the nuclear facilities in Iran after US and Israeli strikes was serious and was being evaluated further.

Araghchi also said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in “good health" and that Tehran was open to talks with Washington, but that those will not be direct “for the time being."

Following his remarks, Trump on his social media platform wrote, “Of course they are [nuclear sites damaged], just like I said, and we will do it again, if necessary!"

Last month too, Trump had said the US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites were “a perfect operation", and warned his country would strike Iran again if it resumes its nuclear programme.

US ally Israel attacked Iran on June 13, and the Middle Eastern rivals then engaged in an air war for 12 days in which Washington also bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.

A ceasefire was reached in late June.

Later, Trump rejected reports that Iran removed nuclear materials before its sites were hit by US airstrikes. Trump also claimed that workers at the sites were covering shafts rather than removing uranium stockpiles.

Quoting unnamed sources, a CNN report had suggested a preliminary assessment by the Pentagon’s intelligence arm concluded that Iran’s nuclear program had only been set back by a few months.

The assessment, prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency, was based on post-strike analysis by US Central Command, the report had claimed.

Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not.

The United Nations nuclear watchdog says it has “no credible indication" of an active, coordinated weapons program in Iran. Tehran maintains its nuclear program is solely meant for civilian purposes.

Israel is the only Middle Eastern country believed to have nuclear weapons and said its war against Iran aimed to prevent Tehran from developing its own nuclear weapons.

Prior to the war, Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks, mediated by Oman, but could not agree on the extent to which Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium.

Israel and Washington say Iran was close to enriching to levels that would allow it to quickly produce a nuclear weapon, while Tehran says its enrichment program is for civilian purposes only.

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Location :

First Published:

News world 'Will Do It Again': Trump's Warning After Iranian Minister Says Won't Give Up On Nuclear Enrichment