Iran on Tuesday accused Israel of a sabotage attack in June that reportedly targeted a civilian nuclear facility near Tehran, the official IRNA news agency reported.
According to the report, Cabinet spokesman Ali Rabiei said the alleged attack sought to thwart ongoing talks in Vienna on resurrecting Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers. IRNA quoted Rabiei as saying such actions only make Iran stronger.
“The Zionist regime carried out this action to signal it can stop Iran and to say that there is no need to talk with Iran,” said Rabiei. “But whenever sabotage has happened, our strength has increased.”
Iran has offered few details on the attack it said targeted a sprawling nuclear center located in Karaj, a city about 40 kilometers northwest of the Iranian capital. On June 23, state TV said it was an attempted attack against a building belonging to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization that left no casualties or damage.
The Associated Press quoted Rabiei as saying that there was damage to the ceiling and also that “damage to equipment was not remarkable.”
“A hole appeared on ceiling of one of the industrial sheds so the roof was removed for repair,” Rabiei said. He said a satellite image that was distributed at the time was after the roof of the shed had been removed for repairs.
Iranian authorities did not specify which facility in Karaj had been targeted. There are two sites associated with Iran’s nuclear program known to be in the area, including the Karaj Agricultural and Medical Research Center, founded in 1974. Authorities describe it as a facility that uses nuclear technology to improve “quality of soil, water, agricultural and livestock production.”
The area is located near various industrial sites, including pharmaceutical production facilities where Iran has manufactured its domestic coronavirus vaccine.
