Iran nuclear: Fire at Natanz plant ’caused by sabotage’

Iran’s nuclear body said a fire at a major nuclear facility near Natanz last month was caused by sabotage.

But Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) did not say who they believe was behind the incident.

Some Iranian officials have previously said the fire may have been the result of cyber-sabotage.

It comes after a number of fires and explosions at energy supplies and other sites in the last few weeks.

Behrouz Kamalvandi, an IAEO spokesman, told state television channel al-Alam on Sunday that “security authorities at the time were the reason behind the [Natanz] blast “.

• What’s behind mysterious ‘attacks’ on important sites?
• Why are the limits for Iranian uranium enrichment matter?

The fire broke out at a workshop for central centrifuge assembly. Centrifuges are needed to produce enriched uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel, but also nuclear weapons material.

Mr. Kamalvandi said last month that Iran would replace the damaged building with more advanced equipment, but the fire could slow down the development and production of advanced centrifuges “in the medium term.”

An article by the Iranian state news agency Irna previously addressed the possibility of sabotage by opponents such as the United States and Israel, but did not directly accuse any of the countries.

Why is Natanz significant?

Natanz, about 250 km (150 miles) south of the capital Tehran, is Iran’s largest Iran enrichment facility.

Earlier this month, Bloomberg published details of a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN’s watchdog, which concluded that Iran was trying to stimulate uranium enrichment in the plant.

If true, the move would be in conflict with a 2015 nuclear deal that Iran signed with various world powers.

• Iran’s nuclear crisis in 300 words

As part of the deal, Iran agrees only to produce low-enriched uranium, which has a concentration of 3-4% of U-235 and can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. Uranium with weapon grade is 90% enriched or more.

Iran has also agreed to install no more than 5,060 of the oldest and least efficient centrifuges at Natanz by 2026, and by 2031 not to carry out any enrichment at its other underground facility, Fordo.

In exchange for concessions to the nuclear program, Iran received exemption from international sanctions.

But last year, Iran began rolling back its commitments after US President Donald Trump abandoned the nuclear deal and reinstated economic sanctions.

In November, Iran said it had doubled the number of advanced centrifuges served at Natanz and began injecting uranium hexafluoride gas into centrifuges at Fordo.

Natanz is one of several facilities monitored by the IAEA to ensure Iran’s compliance with the 2015 deal.

On Saturday, the new IAEA boss Rafael Grossi announced that he would visit Tehran on Monday to request access to two suspected former nuclear sites. The IAEA said it suspects that activities related to the development of nuclear weapons were carried out in the early 2000s on these sites.

Iran has previously insisted that its nuclear program is not intended for military use. Officials have also denied that Mr Grossi’s visit is related to movements by the United States at the UN Security Council to re-impose international sanctions on Tehran, state media reported.