News / Nuclear Energy

Iran constructing more advanced building near Natanz nuclear site after sabotage: AEOI

Tuesday, 08 September 2020 4:36 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 08 September 2020 5:10 PM ]

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali Akbar Salehi

The head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says a modern building will be constructed near the Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran in the wake of an act of sabotage at the site in July.

Ahead of a Tuesday meeting of the Iranian Parliament’s Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy, Ali-Akbar Salehi said the work has begun to build the new structure at the Natanz nuclear facility to make advanced centrifuges.

The act of sabotage in early July affected a shed under construction at Natanz, but it caused no casualties and failed to stop enrichment work at the facility.

Salehi further said since the incident, the AEOI has been taking the required reconstruction measures “in two phases.”

“In the first phase, we did equipment procurement and a preliminary launch to develop advanced centrifuges, and in the next phase, we will take a stride,” he added.

“Regarding the truly malicious act of sabotage carried out [at Natanz], it was decided to establish a more modern, larger and more inclusive building in all dimensions in the heart of the mountain near Natanz for that [purpose] and the work has begun,” he added.

Iran identifies perpetrators of sabotage at Natanz nuclear facility: AEOI spokesman

He says the saboteurs sought to disrupt the uranium enrichment process at Natanz but they failed.

Salehi said Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) will later comment on the identification of the elements behind the incident at Natanz facility.

The AEOI spokesman t Behrouz Kamalvandi said on Sunday that the country's security forces have identified the perpetrators of the act of sabotage at Natanz nuclear facility.

“It is for the security organizations to painstakingly investigate [the incident] and they are expected to give their final view in this regard. Their investigations are underway and as far as we know, they have detected the agents [who committed the act of sabotage] as well as the motive, methods and manner of the sabotage,” Kamalvandi added.

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