Iran official says sabotage caused fire at Natanz nuclear site

Spokesperson tells state TV that security officials will ‘reveal in due time’ the cause of the explosion at the nuclear site; article by IRNA alleges U.S. or Israel behind incident
Reuters|
A fire at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility last month was the result of sabotage, the spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation told state TV channel al-Alam on Sunday.
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  • "The explosion at Natanz nuclear facility was a result of sabotage operations, security authorities will reveal in due time the reason behind the blast," said Behrouz Kamalvandi.
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    שריפה מבנה מתקן גרעיני נתנז איראן
    שריפה מבנה מתקן גרעיני נתנז איראן
    The Natanz nuclear facility after being damaged by fire
    (Photo: AP)
    Iran's top security body in July said that the cause of the fire had been determined but would be announced later. Iranian officials said that the fire had caused significant damage that could slow the development of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges.
    The Natanz uranium-enrichment site, much of which is underground, is one of several Iranian facilities monitored by inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog.
    Some Iranian officials have said the fire may have been the result of cyber sabotage, and have warned that Tehran would retaliate against any country carrying out such attacks.
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    The Natanz nuclear facility
    The Natanz nuclear facility
    The Natanz nuclear facility
    (Photo: AP)
    An article by Iran's state news agency IRNA in July addressed what it called the possibility of sabotage by enemies such as Israel and the United States, although it stopped short of accusing either directly.
    Israeli officials declined to comment on Sunday.
    The IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Saturday he will make his first trip to Tehran in that role on Monday to pressure Iran to grant inspectors access to two suspected former atomic sites.
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    IAEA meeting on Iran
    IAEA meeting on Iran
    IAEA meeting on Iran
    (Photo: EPA)
    The IAEA suspects activities possibly related to developing nuclear weapons were carried out in the early 2000s at these sites. Iran insists its nuclear program has no military dimensions.
    "Iran has not opposed access to its nuclear facilities, but the IAEA's questions and allegations should be based on serious evidence and documents," Kamalvandi said.
    Iranian officials said on Sunday that Grossi's visit was not related to the U.S. push at the UN Security Council to reimpose international sanctions on Tehran, Iran's state TV reported.
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