Xinhua
03 Jul 2025, 09:45 GMT+10
WASHINGTON, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The Pentagon said Wednesday that U.S. strikes last month on three key Iranian nuclear facilities have set back Tehran's nuclear program by as much as two years.
"We have degraded their program by one to two years, at least intel assessments inside the department assess that," Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said at a news briefing, without providing further details.
"All of the intelligence that we've seen led us to believe that Iran's, those facilities especially, have been completely obliterated," Parnell added.
On June 22, U.S. forces bombed the three Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
"No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow," Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told CBS News in an interview Tuesday. "What we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged."
Iran's Atomic Energy Organization is assessing the damage, he added.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued an order on Wednesday to enact a law suspending the country's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The law calls for a suspension of cooperation with the IAEA until Iran's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the safety of its nuclear facilities and scientists are fully guaranteed, said Constitutional Council Spokesman Hadi Tahan Nazif.
The law requires that any future inspections of Iran's nuclear sites by the IAEA need approval from the Supreme National Security Council.
In response, the IAEA said in a statement, "We are aware of these reports. The IAEA is awaiting further official information from Iran."
Speaking at a daily press briefing on Wednesday, Stephane Dujarric, chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, expressed concern over Iran's decision, calling it "obviously concerning."
"The Secretary-General has been very consistent in his call for Iran to cooperate with the IAEA, and frankly, for all countries to work closely with the IAEA on nuclear issues," he said.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said Wednesday that Iran's suspension of cooperation with the IAEA is "unacceptable."
"We'll use the word unacceptable, that Iran chose to suspend cooperation with the IAEA at a time when it has a window of opportunity to reverse course and choose a path of peace and prosperity," Bruce told a briefing.
Iran must cooperate fully with the UN agency without further delay, she said.
Get a daily dose of Jamaican Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Jamaican Times.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks diverged on Wednesday for the second day in a row. The Standard and Poor's 500 hit a new all-time...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: The U.S. dollar continues to lose ground, weighed down by growing concerns over Washington's fiscal outlook...
KABUL, Afghanistan: Afghanistan, long associated with war and instability, is quietly trying to rebrand itself as a destination for...
SANTA CLARA, California: Executives at Nvidia have quietly been cashing in on the AI frenzy. According to a report by the Financial...
NEW YORK, New York - Global stock indices closed with divergent performances on Tuesday, as investors weighed corporate earnings, central...
TORONTO, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced late on June 29 that trade negotiations with the U.S. have recommenced...
ISTANBUL/PARIS/BRUSSELS: As searing temperatures blanket much of Europe, wildfires are erupting and evacuation orders are being issued...
VENICE, Italy: Over the weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through the narrow streets of Venice to voice their opposition to billionaire...
PARIS, France: France is taking stronger steps to reduce smoking. A new health rule announced on Saturday will soon ban smoking in...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed Elon Musk's success has been built on government subsidies. Without...
EVERGLADES, Florida: Over the weekend, a diverse coalition of environmental activists, Native American leaders, and residents gathered...
BEIJING, China: China's national soccer team may struggle to stir excitement, but its humanoid robots are drawing cheers — and not...