Iran Suffers 'Major Damage' from Nuclear Facility Fire... Some Suggest US and Others Behind Hacking Attack

Iran Reverses Position Denying Major Damage
Israeli Defense Minister Denies Attack Rumors
Past Allegations of Computer Virus Attacks Also Reported

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The Iranian government recently announced that a fire at the Natanz nuclear facility complex has caused setbacks in the development and production of new centrifuges. This reverses their initial stance that the fire would not significantly disrupt nuclear facility operations, drawing attention to the background of this change.

On the 5th (local time), Behrouz Kamalvandi, spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, stated in an interview with the state-run IRNA news agency, "This incident may delay the development and production of new uranium enrichment machines in the medium term," adding, "Iran plans to replace them with larger and more advanced facilities." This overturned the previous position that "there is no disruption to nuclear facility activities." He also said, "Although the incident caused significant damage, there were no casualties."

Fire at Iran Natanz Nuclear Facility
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Major foreign media outlets, citing Iranian sources, reported that Iran is raising the possibility of a cyberattack related to this incident. They suggested that the fire may not have been a simple accident but rather a sabotage attempt by the United States or Israel to damage Iran's nuclear development capabilities.

Israel has, however, gently denied involvement in the incident. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated, "Israel is not necessarily behind every suspicious event that occurs in Iran."

In the past, the Natanz nuclear facility was targeted by a computer virus attack known as Stuxnet. There have been suspicions that this virus was developed by the United States or Israel.

During former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, Iran reached the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with the United States and other Western countries, freezing Iran's nuclear capabilities. However, after President Donald Trump withdrew from the JCPOA and increased sanctions on Iran, Iran announced its intention to resume nuclear activities, including increasing uranium enrichment levels. This indicates Iran is moving toward weaponizing nuclear technology, as the international community fears. Centrifuges are essential for uranium enrichment and related processes.