Natanz Explosion Disrupts Uranium Enrichment for at Least 9 Months

Reports about Mossad’s role in the attack on the Natanz nuclear facility have been published by American and Israeli media. The “New York Times,” citing intelligence sources, has reported a massive explosion in the power supply system of this facility.

The New York Times, citing two anonymous American and Israeli intelligence sources, has announced that the shutdown of the uranium enrichment section of the Natanz nuclear facility was due to a massive explosion in the facility’s power supply system.

The attack on the power supply system of the Natanz nuclear facility occurred one day after its inauguration was announced. Hassan Rouhani, concurrent with the continuation of JCPOA joint commission talks in Vienna, spoke about launching uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz on “National Nuclear Technology Day.”

The following day, Sunday, April 11 (Farvardin 22), the attack on the facility’s power supply system took place. An attack that Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, referred to as “nuclear terrorism.”

“The facility is out of service”

The New York Times reported in its article that the extent of damage to the power supply section was such that it would effectively delay Iran’s nuclear activities at this center by at least nine months.

Iran has not clearly communicated the cause of this explosion and has only stated that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

The New York Times, citing two American and Israeli intelligence sources, wrote that the attack was carried out by Israel.

The New York Times further wrote that it is unclear whether the attack on Natanz was carried out with the knowledge of the Biden administration or if Israel acted independently in such an operation.

The newspaper further wrote that Israel’s dissatisfaction with the progress of negotiations aimed at reaching an agreement with the Islamic Republic over the nuclear dispute is not something that Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and other officials of this country have hidden.

On the other hand, the impact of this attack on nuclear negotiations is also unclear. Iran has announced that this attack will not go “unanswered,” but has not provided further explanation about its potential actions.

An explosion on the 3rd of Tir last year also resulted in the shutdown of the advanced centrifuge assembly center at Natanz.

At that time, Western media also attributed responsibility for that attack to Israel. The New York Times noted that Israel’s prevailing policy in such cases is neither to confirm nor deny the news.

Nevertheless, Israeli officials have repeatedly announced that they will never allow Iran to equip itself with nuclear weapons.

The New York Times in this regard has pointed to the killing of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh and several other Iranian nuclear scientists by Israel in recent years.

The New York Times in this report has pointed to the difficult situation of the Islamic Republic. The newspaper’s reporter wrote that if Iran concludes that responsibility for this attack lies with Israel, it will face a difficult calculation in choosing its response to this action.

Source: DW