Iran’s nuclear program cannot be destroyed militarily, FM says

Iran's foreign minister says the country’s nuclear program cannot be destroyed by military means, citing the program's widespread dispersion and robust protection.

During an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told AFP, “Iran's nuclear program cannot be destroyed through military operations" because the technology is ingrained, facilities are dispersed and protected, and Iran would retaliate proportionally.

He made the remarks as Israel has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iran’s nuclear sites. Later on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he had written to Iran warning it to open negotiations or face a military attack.

Araghchi said that “if the Israelis or others were sure that they would achieve their goals through a military attack, they would have done so by now, but such a possibility is not feasible.”

Araghchi dismissed the threat of war against Iran as mere rhetoric, warning that any attempt to act on it would pose a grave danger and ignite a widespread conflict.

“The threat of war against Iran is a threat that is just talked about. Implementing this threat would be a very big danger and would turn into a widespread fire.”