Iran Declares No Further Response to US Strikes, Yet Continues Nuclear Enrichment Efforts
Amid growing international concern, Iran has announced that it does not intend to carry out any additional retaliatory actions following recent US missile strikes targeting its nuclear facilities. Iranian diplomatic sources and officials have indicated a shift towards de-escalation, emphasizing that Tehran will not pursue further military measures as long as aggressive actions from Washington cease. In a recent interview with NBC News, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhte-Ravanchi stated that Iran has already responded to the US strikes on three nuclear sites and does not plan to escalate further unless provoked. He noted that there have been no active military provocations from Washington at the moment, which allows Tehran to maintain a cautious stance. Despite this, Iran continues its nuclear program unabated, asserting its legal right to enrich uranium domestically. Officials emphasize that while the process persists, the country is committed to avoiding any move toward militarization of its nuclear efforts. Takhte-Ravanchi further underscored that Iran's policy regarding uranium enrichment remains unchanged and that Tehran will proceed independently, provided it does not cross certain red lines. The region remains tense, especially after Iran launched a missile attack against a US military base in Qatar, following earlier strikes on Tehran's nuclear infrastructure. The Qatari defense forces successfully intercepted and repelled the attack, which was reportedly announced in advance by Iran, signaling an apparent desire to avoid full-scale escalation while demonstrating retaliation capacity. US President Donald Trump responded to the escalation with a tone of diplomatic restraint, posting on social media platform Truth Social, thanking Iran for its advance warning. He claimed that the US strikes were highly effective, destroying key nuclear targets and setting back Iran's nuclear ambitions by approximately one to two years. According to Pentagon assessments, Tehran's nuclear development has been delayed significantly. However, Iran remains largely silent on the full implications of these strikes, leading to concerns that its nuclear program may become even more clandestine and insulated from international oversight. The country has effectively ceased cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, further restricting outside access to its nuclear activities. Recent reports suggest that Iran could resume producing enriched uranium within mere months, even despite damage inflicted on several facilities, thereby complicating efforts to control proliferation and maintain regional stability.