Iranian Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif has publicly acknowledged for the first time that Israel supplied Iran with centrifuge platforms containing explosives for its nuclear enrichment program. Zarif's comments shed light on the sophistication of sabotage programs targeting Iran's nuclear facilities.
Zarif made these revelations in an interview with an Iranian organization, where he discussed a sabotage attack by Israel's Mossad intelligence agency on equipment used by Hezbollah. He highlighted the challenges Iran faces under Western sanctions and the risks posed by such infiltrations.
This acknowledgment comes after a series of attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, including explosions at the Natanz enrichment site in 2020 and 2021, which Iran attributed to Israel. The outgoing Mossad chief had hinted at Israeli involvement in these attacks.
Concerns over Iran's nuclear program have escalated since the U.S. withdrew from the international nuclear deal in 2018. Iran has since breached the deal's limits, enriching uranium to levels close to weapons-grade and amassing a significant stockpile.
Iranian officials maintain that their nuclear program is peaceful and express willingness to negotiate with the West. However, they criticize the lack of commitment from the other parties involved in the talks.
Israel, along with U.S. Presidents Biden and Trump, has reiterated their stance against Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon, raising fears of potential preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
In response to these threats, Iranian President Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran does not seek war but is prepared to defend itself if necessary.
As tensions persist in the region, the international community closely monitors developments in Iran's nuclear program and the potential for further escalations.
