Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Arakchi with Fox News Network

Why not import enriched uranium like some other countries?  Why not be part of an agreement that you import it instead of domestic production?

Because this is a scientific achievement;  The achievement we have achieved.  Why do we need to import what we can produce?

Because you raise enrichment to high percentages;  For example, 1 or 2 %, while it should be at a time of 1.5 %.

No, no, we never go to 1 %.  We are committed to staying below 1 % for the production of nuclear power plants. We also enrich up to 5 % because we have a research reactor in Tehran called the Tehran Research Reactor or TRR.  We rich uranium for our own needs.

We went to 1 % once, and it was after sabotage in our nuclear facilities.  And yes, we reached 1 % at that time, but during the talks I told the other parties that if the nuclear deal was reached, we would return to the lower level immediately.

Has the Iranian enrichment program resumed?  Is this program continuing or the damage is so severe that it has been completely stopped?

The process of uranium enrichment has already been stopped, as damages have been severe.

Certainly we cannot abandon our enrichment, because this is the achievement of our scientists and is now beyond it, this has become a national pride, enrichment is very valuable to us.

Dear Minister, with respect, the issue is not just the United States and Israel;  Rather, other leaders in the world are concerned about Iran's enrichment program.  If this program is completely peaceful, why would you need to deploy it in the depths of a mountain to protect it?  This is only part of the concerns.  The second point is that President Trump has said that if Iran tries to rebuild its enrichment program, he will not hesitate to hesitate.  What is your answer to President Trump?

Because of the continued threats and pressure from Israel and the United States in the past, we had no other way than to protect our facilities, nuclear materials and scientists.  My message to the United States is to find a solution based on negotiation for Iran's nuclear program.

Is Iran currently trying to assassinate former Trump president, former Foreign Minister Mike Pompeo, former ambassador John Bolton and other Trump administration officials following Qasim Suleimani's death?

No, we have never said that.  Some people may have spoken here and there, but this has never been Iran's official stance.