Fire breaks out at Iranian nuclear facility, no damage occurred, say officials

[Ivan]

Fire breaks out at Iranian nuclear facility, no damage occurred, say officials


Nuclear site operating as usual, says Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation spokesperson, AEO is investigating incident
​

July 02, 2020

Photo: File
​

DUBAI: A fire broke out at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility but there were no casualties and the site is operating as usual, Iranian officials said on Thursday.

The Natanz Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP) is one of several Iranian facilities monitored by the United Nations nuclear watchdog.

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation initially reported that “an incident” had occurred at the facility in the central province of Isfahan.

“There were no casualties or damages and the nuclear site is operating as usual,” the organisation’s spokesman, Behrouz Kamalvandi, was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

The governor of Natanz city, Ramazanali Ferdosi, later said the incident was caused by fire, adding that firefighters had been sent to the site. He gave no further details about the cause of the blaze, Tasnim reported.

A team of experts from the Atomic Energy Organisation is investigating the cause of the incident.

“There is no concern about the possibility of contamination as one of the sheds which was inactive and under construction was damaged and not the facility itself,” Kamalvandi told state news agency IRNA.

Some experts did not rule out possibility of sabotage given the importance of the Natanz nuclear site.

“Considering that this so-called incident happened just a few days after the explosion near the Parchin military base, the possibility of a sabotage cannot be ruled out,” a former Iranian nuclear official told Reuters.

“Also Natanz enrichment facility has been targeted in the past by a computer virus,” he said, referring to an attack in 2010 by the Stuxnet computer virus that damaged centrifuges at the site and is widely believed to have been developed by the United States and Israel.

Last Friday an explosion occurred east of Tehran near a sensitive military complex which the authorities said was caused by a tank leak in a gas storage facility in a public area.

Western security services believe Tehran carried out tests relevant to nuclear bomb detonations more than a decade ago at the Parchin military and weapons development base. Iran has denied it carried out such tests.

Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of most international sanctions in a deal reached between Tehran and six world powers in 2015.

But Tehran has gradually reduced its commitments to the accord since US President Donald Trump’s administration withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed and intensified sanctions that have battered Iran’s economy.

The deal only lets Iran accumulate enriched uranium with just over 5,000 of its first-generation IR-1 centrifuges at Natanz. It lets Iran use small numbers of more advanced models for research, without producing enriched uranium.

Israel has backed Trump’s “maximum pressure” policy on Tehran aimed at forcing it to agree a new deal that puts stricter limits on its nuclear work, curbs its ballistic missile program and ends its regional proxy wars.

Iran says it will not negotiate as long as sanctions remain in place.

There was no immediate comment from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.

 

[Blue In Green]

Unfortunately I don't think this was the case, clearly the photos show damage that is consistent with a rather violent explosion locating from somewhere inside the building i.e.; blown off roof, destroyed windows, cracked walls (this would indicate that it was an explosive device of some sort), fire that most likely started either before or after the explosion went off.

What's important to note here is this facility isn't just some some random auxiliary building, it had a very important purpose. This building was where the fabrication, production and assembly of the more advanced Iranian made centrifuges was being done (or something to that affect). Undoubtedly expensive proprietary equipment housed in that building has been outright destroyed. Usually I take what Iran says at face value but this recent event and the last gas explosion near the missile production facility have called many things into question. It's not outside the realm of possibility that Iran is quite literally under-attack from a multi-pronged internal sabotaging campaign aimed at hitting sensitive state owned property as well as strategic military assets. Moreover we don't know if these attacks are just one offs or if this is a part of a larger more complex operation.

I don't say this often but in this case I think Iran is clearly downplaying the damage done and they're underplaying the gravity of it due to several reasons namely PR purposes as they don't want the Iranian population to think too much of what has gone down recently as it would hurt various officials as well overall public confidence in the nuclear energy program. When the gas explosion had happened various IRGC officials were already taking a second-look at things to see if there has indeed been some sort of sabotage but now they're doing a rigorous full internal investigation as well as a reassessment their position on certain matters and how they will be going forward. This recent act of destruction crosses Iranian red-lines as it isn't just some assassination of innocent nuclear scientist or a computer virus. It's outright destruction of a good chunk of a very important building which housed crucial nuclear cycle fabrication components. Iran can't take this one laying down, but I can't say what will happen next.

Needless to say we're going to have to wait and see what Iran is planning to do in response to this act of sabotage. I can't really say what's going to happen next since Iran can take this in any way they deem fit (conduct internal investigation, get the IAEA involved etc..). Although what has now become more of a reality is that there might be an ongoing sabotage campaign in Iran by either the usual actors (Israel, U.S, Saudi Arabia etc) acting through proxies or directly or there is some new dissident groups causing these incidents.

 

[Ivan]

Unfortunately I don't think this was the case, clearly the photos show damage that is consistent with a rather violent explosion locating from somewhere inside the building i.e.; blown off roof, destroyed windows, cracked walls (this would indicate that it was an explosive device of some sort), fire that most likely started either before or after the explosion went off.

What's important to note here is this facility isn't just some some random auxiliary building, it had a very important purpose. This building was where the fabrication, production and assembly of the more advanced Iranian made centrifuges was being done (or something to that affect). Undoubtedly expensive proprietary equipment housed in that building has been outright destroyed. Usually I take what Iran says at face value but this recent event and the last gas explosion near the missile production facility have called many things into question. It's not outside the realm of possibility that Iran is quite literally under-attack from a multi-pronged internal sabotaging campaign aimed at hitting sensitive state owned property as well as strategic military assets. Moreover we don't know if these attacks are just one offs or if this is a part of a larger more complex operation.

I don't say this often but in this case I think Iran is clearly downplaying the damage done and they're underplaying the gravity of it due to several reasons namely PR purposes as they don't want the Iranian population to think too much of what has gone down recently as it would hurt various officials as well overall public confidence in the nuclear energy program. When the gas explosion had happened various IRGC officials were already taking a second-look at things to see if there has indeed been some sort of sabotage but now they're doing a rigorous full internal investigation as well as a reassessment their position on certain matters and how they will be going forward. This recent act of destruction crosses Iranian red-lines as it isn't just some assassination of innocent nuclear scientist or a computer virus. It's outright destruction of a good chunk of a very important building which housed crucial nuclear cycle fabrication components. Iran can't take this one laying down, but I can't say what will happen next.

Needless to say we're going to have to wait and see what Iran is planning to do in response to this act of sabotage. I can't really say what's going to happen next since Iran can take this in any way they deem fit (conduct internal investigation, get the IAEA involved etc..). Although what has now become more of a reality is that there might be an ongoing sabotage campaign in Iran by either the usual actors (Israel, U.S, Saudi Arabia etc) acting through proxies or directly or there is some new dissident groups causing these incidents.

I agree Sir. There was this news in The Times of Israel, a day before this explosion:

US envoy: Military action against Iranian nuclear program ‘always on the table’​

https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-en...use-military-against-iranian-nuclear-program/​

Brian Hook, US pointman on Iran, says Trump willing to use force to prevent Tehran acquiring nukes; downplays fears annexation could harm Israel’s ties with Arab states
​

By TOI STAFF and AGENCIES
1 July 2020, 2:37 am

US special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, attends a press briefing with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, June 30, 2020. (Abir Sultan/Pool via AP)

​

The Trump administration’s envoy for Iran said Tuesday that the White House was willing to take military action against Tehran to prevent the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, said during a visit to Jerusalem that “the military option is always on the table.”

“We’ve made very clear, the president has, that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon,” Hook said in an interview with Channel 13.

“The Israeli people and the American people and the international community should know that President Trump will never allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” Hook said.

Hook is on a Middle East tour meeting with US allies to seek support for Washington’s demand of extending a 13-year UN weapons embargo on Iran set to expire in October. He visited the United Arab Emirates over the weekend.

In a meeting with Hook on Tuesday in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the US to move forward with its threat to reimpose “snapback” sanctions on Iran.

Netanyahu urged that “in response to repeated Iranian provocations and violations… it is time to implement, now, snapback sanctions. I don’t think we can afford to wait. We should not wait for Iran to start its breakout to a nuclear weapon because when that happens it will be too late for sanctions.”

If the UN Security Council fails to extend the embargo, the US would seek to trigger the broad array of “snapback” sanctions due to Iran’s violations of the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

The US abandoned that deal in 2018, triggering a series of Iranian violations in the ensuing years.

Hook told Channel 13 that the US would prefer to extend the arms embargo over sanctions.

“When you play by Iran’s rules, Iran wins, so we are making the national security case for extending the arms embargo that has been in place for 13 years,” Hook said.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1278048985270358017

Russia and China, which are both members of the UN Security Council, oppose the embargo, however. Their support, or abstention from a vote, would be needed to extend the embargo.

“I’m hopeful because Russia and China also would like to see a peaceful and stable Middle East,” Hook said.

He highlighted ties between Israel and Arab states, which have likely been strengthened by shared concern over threats from Iran, and downplayed fears that Israel’s planned annexation of parts of the West Bank could damage those ties.

“We very much like the steps that have been taken by a number of governments I think to deal with Iranian aggression and we would very much like to see the Palestinians come to the table. With respect to annexation, that is a decision for the Israeli government to make. We are working on building support for the peace vision,” Hook said.

In his meeting with Hook, Netanyahu warned that the Iranian regime “deliberately deceives the international community. It lies all the time. It lies on solemn pledges and commitments that it took before the international community. It continues its secret program to develop nuclear weapons. It continues its secret program to develop the means to deliver nuclear weapons.”

He vowed that Israel would “do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons,” and told Hook, “I know that’s your position as well.”

“This is a policy, Brian, that we have adopted as well. We are absolutely resolved to prevent Iran from entrenching itself militarily in our immediate vicinity. We take repeated and forceful military action against Iran and its proxies in Syria and elsewhere if necessary,” said Netanyahu.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, meets with US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook in Jerusalem on June 30, 2020. (Haim Tzach/GPO)

​

Iranian officials have suggested they could expel international inspectors monitoring the country’s nuclear program in response to an arms embargo extension, or even withdrawal entirely from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The UN arms embargo so far has stopped Iran from purchasing fighter jets, tanks, warships and other weaponry, but has failed to halt its smuggling of weapons into war zones in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday urged the UN Security Council to extend the embargo, warning that its expiration would risk the stability of the oil-rich region.

“Iran will hold a sword of Damocles over the economic stability of the Middle East, endangering nations like Russia and China that rely on stable energy prices,” Pompeo told the virtual session. Both countries on Tuesday spoke out against extending the embargo.

European allies of the United States have voiced support for the embargo but also oppose new sanctions, saying the bigger issue is Iran’s nuclear program.

US sanctions imposed since the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal have created intense financial pressure on Tehran that have led to sporadic anti-government protests, including nationwide demonstrations in November that Amnesty International says saw over 300 people killed. While the Trump administration has maintained it doesn’t seek to overthrow Iran’s government, its pressure campaign has exacerbated public anger against its Shiite theocracy.

Since Trump’s withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Iran has broken all the accord’s production limits. The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, which monitors Iranian nuclear activity as part of the deal, says Tehran’s stockpile of low-enriched uranium continues to grow.

While not at weapons-grade levels, the growing stockpile and increased production shortens the one-year timeline analysts believe Iran would need to have enough material for a nuclear weapon if it chose to pursue one. Iran long has denied seeking atomic bombs, though the IAEA previously said Iran had done work in “support of a possible military dimension to its nuclear program” that largely halted in late 2003 following the US invasion of Iraq.

 

[Hack-Hook]

Unfortunately I don't think this was the case, clearly the photos show damage that is consistent with a rather violent explosion locating from somewhere inside the building i.e.; blown off roof, destroyed windows, cracked walls (this would indicate that it was an explosive device of some sort), fire that most likely started either before or after the explosion went off

that explossive device can easily be a badly mounted centrifuge being tested

 

[Zarvan]

Ok now the number of incidents in last one week are probing it to be sabotage and not the accidents. So question is that is Sabotage being done through cyber attacks or physically someone is doing it. My bet is on cyber warfare by Israel and USA.

 

[zartosht]

virtually any dog (inspector) sent to Iran by the IAEA are going to be CIA spies. US intelligence gets to have a very good look inside iranian nuclear facilities..

They love it soo much, that they were trying to expand to outright military facilities too... essentially any area in Iran would be open to CIA inspection on the excuse of "checking for nuclear activity"

enough is enough of this stupid game. kick all these CIA spies out, leave the NPT, test a nuke, and openly show on TV aimed at tel aviv and ready to fire.... enough is enough.

 

[mangekyo]

that explossive device can easily be a badly mounted centrifuge being tested

Too many "accidents" in a row. 2020 is really our worst year in a very long time.

 

[Dariush the Great]

virtually any dog (inspector) sent to Iran by the IAEA are going to be CIA spies. US intelligence gets to have a very good look inside iranian nuclear facilities..

They love it soo much, that they were trying to expand to outright military facilities too... essentially any area in Iran would be open to CIA inspection on the excuse of "checking for nuclear activity"

enough is enough of this stupid game. kick all these CIA spies out, leave the NPT, test a nuke, and openly show on TV aimed at tel aviv and ready to fire.... enough is enough.

Iran knows IAEI inspectors are trained CIA agents. They will not allow them in if it is a serious national security asset.

 

[SubWater]

خواهش من از دوستان این است که فشار جو روانی بر روی نظام افزایش بدین تا تلاویو بزنند انشالا
از اینکه بگید اسرائیل ما را زده خجالت نکشید تا همه بدونند ما جنگ طلب نیستیم بلکه دنبال تنبیه متجاوز هستیم

 

[BATMAN]

My bet is on cyber warfare by Israel and USA.

Where can we collect our winning?

 

[TheImmortal]

Two mysterious explosions with days of each other....one in Tehran missile complex and one in Nuclear facility.

There is a shadow war going on right now. Iran is hiding it.

 

[mangekyo]

Two mysterious explosions with days of each other....one in Tehran missile complex and one in Nuclear facility.

There is a shadow war going on right now. Iran is hiding it.

That’s what happens when you declare yourself as the punching bag of the world

 

[TheImmortal]

That’s what happens when you declare yourself as the punching bag of the world

It’s good. This only helps Iran learn the tricks these global powers employ. Better for them to waste these tricks during times of peace than to unveil in times of war.

Personally I would just keep key scientists and engineers guarded and never near materials that could put them at risk. Tehrani Moghadaam death can not be ruled out to sabotage. However, there is no shortage of deaths in the development of BMs in the history of mankind. Even Russia recently had a missile explosion during an a test.

 

[Dariush the Great]

Two mysterious explosions with days of each other....one in Tehran missile complex and one in Nuclear facility.

There is a shadow war going on right now. Iran is hiding it.

Not Iran. We have a capable military and cyber force once given the orders will unleash hell upon any enemy.
It are the leaders that are holding us back.

It’s good. This only helps Iran learn the tricks these global powers employ. Better for them to waste these tricks during times of peace than to unveil in times of war.

Personally I would just keep key scientists and engineers guarded and never near materials that could put them at risk. Tehrani Moghadaam death can not be ruled out to sabotage. However, there is no shortage of deaths in the development of BMs in the history of mankind. Even Russia recently had a missile explosion during an a test.

You would think that Tehrani Moghaddam, father of Iranian BM's would understand the risks and procedures associated with missiles.....
It was sabotage. We need to take off the gloves and go after them big time. No ''mercy of ali'' or other stuff like this. If Ali was alive and saw these sh.it he would himself push the button.

We need to do something big, now or in the (near) future. Time will tell.

One thing to keep in mind is that Iranian government succesfully managed to keep wars and conflicts out of our borders for the past 32 years. We know that we are facing the worlds most powerful force on the entire planet US and their illegal bastard child (israel). We have to be careful not to fall into their trap and suffer Iraq's fate.

We need to do something smart yet extremely damaging to the enemy. Like i said, time will tell.

 

[zartosht]

Iran is now in a position that it must absolutely respond. no other choice.

With the first incident, if it was sabotage Iran denied it. So it was possibly giving a de-escalation option to the enemy in exchange for avoiding internal embarrasment.

but with a second explosion at a very sensitive nuclear facility. its impossible to dismiss this as 2 random accidents in a row. this is a serious escalation and cannot remain unanswered. This was done deliberately in a way to embarrass the Iranian government and force their hand into escalation in my opinion.