Iran Says "Can't Give Up" Nuclear Program Despite "Serious Damage"
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
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 the United States 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.
KEY QUOTES
"It is stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe. But obviously we cannot give up of enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists. And now, more than that, it is a question of national pride," the foreign minister told the Fox News show "Special Report with Bret Baier" in a clip aired on Monday.
The foreign minister said the damage to the nuclear facilities in Iran after U.S. and Israeli strikes was serious and was being evaluated further.
"Well, our facilities have been damaged, seriously damaged, the extent of which is now under evaluation by our atomic energy organization. But as far as I know, they are seriously damaged."
CONTEXT
U.S. 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.
Iran is a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, while Israel is not. The U.N. 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Key strategic ally': Top Israeli defence official hails India as 'stable partner'; eyes R&D, joint manufacturing
Defence secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh with Israeli official Amir Baram in New Delhi (X @SpokespersonMoD) NEW DELHI: India is Israel's key 'strategic ally' and has remained "resilient through difficult times," said Maj Gen (Res) Amir Baram, director general of Israel's ministry of defence on Thursday, a day after concluding his first official visit to New Delhi. Baram was in India from July 22 to 23, where he held high-level meetings with senior Indian officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh. Israel Humiliated, Isolated & Ambushed At UNSC; 'Stop Terrorism Against Palestinians' | Watch The discussions focused on strengthening defence and strategic ties, with an emphasis on research and development collaboration and joint manufacturing initiatives. 'India is a key strategic ally of Israel, and our partnership has proven resilient through difficult times. Recent operational achievements and common security challenges create an important window to expand our nations' defence-industrial collaboration,' said Baram according to a statement from the Israeli defence ministry. 'Baram shared insights on the strategic landscape in the Gulf region and presented operational successes from Operation Rising Lion, showcasing Israel's advanced technological capabilities,' added the statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Filipinos don't know about this! Read More Undo Operation Rising Lion is Israel's mission aimed at countering Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities. The ministry of defence in a statement on Wednesday said that both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation with a 'long-term perspective' and 'concurred to work towards developing an institutional framework for further deepening of defence ties.' The ministry of defence in a post on X on Wednesday said, 'Defence Secretary Mr Rajesh Kumar Singh met Director General, Israeli Ministry of Defence Major General (Res) Amir Baram in New Delhi today. The two sides explored new avenues to further strengthen the #defencecooperation between the two countries and reiterated the commitment to enhance the strategic engagement.' They also reviewed the progress made since the last Joint Working Group meeting held in India in July 2024. Baram also met separately with Indian defence companies to explore new industrial collaborations. The statement by Israeli ministry added that Baram's visit marks a 'pivotal step in India-Israel defence relations and reinforces both sides' commitment to enhance their strategic partnership.'
The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
AFP, AP, BBC News and Reuters Urge Israel to Allow Aid and Journalists Into Gaza
New Delhi: Four news organisations – The Associated Press, AFP, BBC News and Reuters – have issued a joint statement about their journalists in Gaza where Israel continues to block food and aid. Some of these organisations, it must be noted, have been on the receiving end of criticism over their coverage of Israel's strikes on Palestine. The BBC, particularly, has been accused of ignoring Palestinians' suffering and favouring Israel's side, often putting it on par with Palestine's. Now, however, over two months since Israel took over the distribution of aid in Gaza, leading to the creation of a situation of mass starvation, the news organisations have come forward with a plea of desperations, addressed directly to Israel. At least 113 people in the Gaza Strip have died of starvation, the territory's health ministry has said. The short statement says: We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families. For many months, these independent journalists have been the world's eyes and ears on the ground in Gaza. They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering. Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in warzones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them. We once again urge the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza. It is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people there. A day ago, more than 100 aid agencies, including Save the Children and Médecins Sans Frontières, released a joint statement urging for aid to be allowed into the territory under siege. The 2024 Round-up by Reporters Without Borders found that in Gaza, at least 35 journalists were killed in direct connection with their work.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Why Columbia University is paying $200 million to Trump administration
Columbia University has agreed to pay over $200 million to settle allegations made by the Trump administration that it failed to adequately protect Jewish students from antisemitic harassment on campus. The settlement ends a federal investigation triggered by incidents of verbal abuse, ostracism, and hostile behavior directed at Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests linked to the heightened Israel-Gaza conflict in 2023–2024. The Trump administration had canceled $400 million in federal funding to Columbia earlier this year as a penalty for what it deemed insufficient action against antisemitism. In return for paying the settlement over three years, Columbia will regain most of its federal funding and commit to sweeping reforms to combat antisemitism, enforce campus order, and comply with federal civil rights laws—without admitting wrongdoing. Columbia University faces major federal probe under Donald Trump In March 2025, the Trump administration halted $400 million in federal grants to Columbia after concluding that the university had failed to address persistent harassment and threats against Jewish students, which emerged amid volatile protests by pro-Palestinian groups following the October 2023 Hamas attacks in Gaza. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Own a Home in ACE Nest – Sector 22A's Iconic New Launch Ace Noida Book Now Undo This investigation was part of a broader push by the administration to clamp down on what it viewed as anti-Israel activism crossing into antisemitism on US campuses. Columbia, a prestigious Ivy League institution, faced significant scrutiny as the first university specifically targeted for such allegations under this policy. Terms of the historic settlement Under the settlement agreement, Columbia will pay $200 million in penalties to the federal government over a three-year period. This financial penalty is coupled with a $21 million settlement resolving claims from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Importantly, Columbia denies any wrongdoing but recognizes the serious challenges posed by antisemitism on its campus and expresses commitment to reform. The deal restores the majority of the frozen federal grants and preserves Columbia's autonomy over academic and administrative decisions. Reforms Columbia has committed to implementing To restore federal trust and prevent future violations, Columbia has committed to implementing the following changes: Hiring additional public safety officers with arrest authority Establishing an independent monitor jointly selected to oversee compliance Strictly regulating protests, such as banning demonstrations inside academic buildings and requiring protesters to identify themselves when masked Recruiting faculty experts in Middle Eastern and Israel studies to foster balanced academic discourse Appointing a dedicated administrator to address Jewish student concerns Ensuring admissions and faculty hiring comply with merit-based, non-discriminatory standards, aligning with Supreme Court rulings against affirmative action Impact and political reactions The settlement represents a landmark victory for the Trump administration's approach to campus activism, emphasizing stricter oversight of universities regarding antisemitism and politically sensitive protests. Columbia's acting president stated that while the settlement is substantial, it is necessary to protect the university's reputation and federal funding. Student groups aligned with pro-Palestinian causes criticized the deal, viewing it as capitulation to political pressure and branding it as an attempt to silence dissent. Columbia University's $200 million settlement with the Trump administration underscores the intense national focus on antisemitism in higher education and the political complexities surrounding campus protests linked to international conflicts. The agreement restores essential funding for Columbia but also imposes significant reforms designed to better protect Jewish students and ensure a climate of civil discourse—signaling ongoing challenges for US universities navigating activism, free speech, and anti-discrimination expectations in a polarized environment.
