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Iran Declares Readiness to Resume Nuclear Program Amid Tense Ceasefire with Israel

Tuesday, June 24, 2025 by Sofia Valdez

Iran Declares Readiness to Resume Nuclear Program Amid Tense Ceasefire with Israel
Former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran at the Bushehr nuclear plant - Image © Hossein Heidarpour via Wikimedia Commons

Iran announced on Tuesday its preparedness to resume its nuclear program and uranium enrichment without any interruptions, amidst a fragile ceasefire agreed upon with Israel after nearly two weeks of direct confrontations. "Iran's nuclear program will restart without delay, and we are prepared to continue uranium enrichment; our program will not be halted," declared the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency as reported by state media and the Spanish news agency EFE.

This announcement comes merely twelve days after Israel initiated a military offensive targeting nuclear and military installations within Iranian territory, leading to a violent escalation that prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran and subsequent attacks by the United States. President Donald Trump confirmed early this morning that Israel and Iran had reached a ceasefire agreement, although shortly thereafter, both sides accused each other of new missile launches, casting doubt on the agreement's stability.

Trump responded firmly to Iran's announcement on Tuesday, asserting that the country "will never be able to rebuild its nuclear facilities." Meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), welcomed the announcement of the ceasefire and urged Iran to resume cooperation with his agency. Grossi conveyed via social media platform X that he has already reached out to Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, proposing a meeting "soon" to seek a diplomatic solution to the nuclear crisis.

Tensions in the region escalated since June 13 when Israel began attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities. Following this, the United States bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, prompting a strong response from Tehran, including an attack on Monday against the U.S. base at Al Udeid in Qatar, the Pentagon's largest in the Middle East.

The IAEA has been overseeing Iran's nuclear program for over two decades, though lack of full cooperation has hindered assurance of its exclusively peaceful nature. Nonetheless, Grossi emphasized that there is currently no evidence indicating Iran is developing nuclear weapons.

Key Questions on Iran's Nuclear Program and Regional Tensions

What prompted Iran to announce the resumption of its nuclear program?

Iran announced the resumption of its nuclear program following a tense ceasefire with Israel after nearly two weeks of military confrontations, which included attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States.

How has the international community reacted to Iran's announcement?

The international community, including the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has expressed concern over Iran's announcement. President Trump condemned the move, while IAEA Director Rafael Grossi called for renewed cooperation with Iran to resolve the nuclear crisis diplomatically.

What are the implications of the ceasefire between Israel and Iran?

The ceasefire aims to halt the ongoing military confrontations between Israel and Iran. However, mutual accusations of missile launches continue to pose a threat to the stability of the agreement, escalating regional tensions further.

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