US President Donald Trump has defended American air strikes on three Iranian nuclear research sites, warning Tehran that Washington would strike again “if necessary.”
“We will do it once again, if necessary!” read Trump’s Truth Social post on Monday, reacting to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s remarks that the facilities had been “seriously damaged.”
Iran’s foreign minister on Sunday said, despite severe damage, Iran would continue to enrich its Uranium while assuring full support to upcoming negotiations with the US.
A US intelligence report suggests that Trump's claims of obliterating Iran's nuclear programme turned out to be a hoax, as strikes conducted by Washington only postponed the nuclear enrichment by a few months rather than years.
“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,” he said during an interview with a prominent US media outlet on Monday.
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These remarks came after Araghchi agreed to hold talks with three European nations, known as E3, including France, Britain, and Germany, which are likely to take place in Istanbul, Türkiye, on Friday.
Talks between Tehran and the US were being held through Omani mediators until Israel’s surprise attack on Iran on June 13, which triggered a 12-day war.
The attack came just two days before a planned sixth round of nuclear talks in the Omani capital, Muscat.
While a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains in place, Iranians fear another round of escalatory war between the two countries in September.
As sceptics suggest that Iran’s performance against Israel during the 12-day war has overshadowed Israel’s war ambitions.
They believe Netanyahu, who is facing a corruption trial in Israel, was given relief by the Israeli Supreme Court over the health issues but will again face the trial in the first week of September.
Anti-Netanyahu politicians and Israeli protesters have expressed fears that Netanyahu might seek another military adventure with Iran to avoid a corruption trial against him and his wife.
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