Iran says it foiled sabotage attempt at nuclear facility

Local paper quotes nuclear official saying unspecified foreign country was behind plot in Arak heavy water plant

Iran's heavy-water nuclear facility near the central city of Arak, Iran, January 15, 2011 (photo credit: AP/ISNA, Hamid Foroutan, File)
Iran's heavy-water nuclear facility near the central city of Arak, Iran, January 15, 2011 (photo credit: AP/ISNA, Hamid Foroutan, File)

TEHRAN, Iran — An Iranian newspaper says authorities have foiled a sabotage attempt involving tanks used for the transportation of heavy water, a key component in nuclear reactors.

Thursday’s report in the independent Arman daily quotes Asghar Zarean, deputy head of Iran’s nuclear department, as saying that Iranian experts thwarted the sabotage attempt “in recent weeks.”

Zarean says a foreign country was behind the attempt but he didn’t elaborate. Iran has only one known heavy water reactor under construction, in the central city of Arak.

Tehran has long accused the West of working to sabotage its nuclear program, which the international community suspects is geared for nuclear arms manufacturing. Iran denies the charges.

The Arak plant, which experts say can only be used to produce weapons grade material, is considered a key sticking point in nuclear negotiations

In September, authorities arrested a Ukrainian suspected of sabotage at the Bushehr nuclear power plant.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.

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