Tehran on nuclear material, detained Americans, and internet access
3/15/2026 5:34:08 PM
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has addressed questions about the country’s enriched nuclear material, detained Americans, and internet access for Iranian officials amid the ongoing conflict.
Araghchi told CBS News that Iran’s nuclear material is under the rubble of facilities damaged in attacks and verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“There is the possibility to retrieve them, but under the supervision of the agency. If one day we come to the conclusion to do that, it would be under the supervision of the agency. But for the time being, we have no programme. We have no plan to recover them from under the rubble”.
He added that Iran had previously offered to dilute its 60 percent enriched uranium in negotiations with the US, but “for the time being, nothing is on the table.”
Regarding Americans held in Iran, including journalist Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, Araghchi said, “Well, if the US and Israel do not attack our prisons. I guess they are safe.”
On internet access, he acknowledged that Iranians generally lack open access, but defended his own connectivity. “Well, because I’m the voice of Iranians, and I have to defend their right. So this is why I have access to the internet. We have our voice being heard by the international community. But the internet is closed because of security reasons, because we are under attack, we are under aggression, and we have to do everything to protect our people. In any country, there are, you know, urgent measures taken for this, for the sake of war.”
Araghchi told CBS News that Iran’s nuclear material is under the rubble of facilities damaged in attacks and verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“There is the possibility to retrieve them, but under the supervision of the agency. If one day we come to the conclusion to do that, it would be under the supervision of the agency. But for the time being, we have no programme. We have no plan to recover them from under the rubble”.
He added that Iran had previously offered to dilute its 60 percent enriched uranium in negotiations with the US, but “for the time being, nothing is on the table.”
Regarding Americans held in Iran, including journalist Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, Araghchi said, “Well, if the US and Israel do not attack our prisons. I guess they are safe.”
On internet access, he acknowledged that Iranians generally lack open access, but defended his own connectivity. “Well, because I’m the voice of Iranians, and I have to defend their right. So this is why I have access to the internet. We have our voice being heard by the international community. But the internet is closed because of security reasons, because we are under attack, we are under aggression, and we have to do everything to protect our people. In any country, there are, you know, urgent measures taken for this, for the sake of war.”