Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi says Tehran’s security services “have identified the culprits” of the 2 July explosion at the Natanz uranium upgrading plant and “know their incentives and methods,” according to a 6 September report by official news agency IRNA.
While AEOI has labelled the explosion as sabotage, Iran’s security forces have kept their findings to themselves. The piecemeal release of information appears to be part of political maneuvers following the US-instigated return of sanctions against Iran. Tehran recently agreed that inspectors from the UN’s IAEA nuclear watchdog can visit two sites where they suspect nuclear experiments have taken place. Tehran’s concession was a result of growing pressure led by France, Germany and the UK on Tehran to “fully cooperate” with the IAEA (MEES, 28 August). (CONTINUED - 167 WORDS)