In a CBS News interview broadcast Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the U.S. bombing of the key Fordow nuclear site has "seriously and heavily damaged" the facility.
"No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged," Araghchi said. He noted that the Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran is conducting an evaluation, with results due to be submitted to the government.
A Sunday Washington Post report, citing four people familiar with classified U.S. intelligence, said intercepted Iranian communications downplayed the extent of damage to Iran's nuclear program.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared the strikes had "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's nuclear program, but U.S. officials acknowledge it will take time to form a complete assessment of last weekend's military strikes.
The contrasting accounts underscore ongoing uncertainty as observers await detailed damage assessments.
Reference(s):
U.S. bombing 'seriously damaged' Iran's Fordow nuclear site, FM says
cgtn.com
