Iran’s Zarif blames Israel for Natanz incident, vows revenge

Iran blames its regional arch-foe Israel for Sunday’s incident at the Natanz nuclear site and will take its revenge, state TV quoted Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as saying on Monday.

Iranian authorities described the incident – an apparent cyber-attack – a day earlier as an act of “nuclear terrorism” and said Tehran reserves the right to take action against the perpetrators, Reuters reported.

“The Zionists want to take revenge because of our progress in the way to lift sanctions … they have publicly said that they will not allow this. But we will take our revenge from the Zionists,” Zarif was quoted as saying.

Multiple Israeli media outlets have quoted unnamed intelligence sources as saying that the country’s Mossad spy service carried out a successful sabotage operation at the Natanz site, potentially setting back enrichment work there by months. Israel has not formally commented on the incident, Reuters reported.

The Natanz uranium-enrichment site, much of which is underground, is one of several Iranian facilities monitored by inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Israel’s army chief has appeared to hint at possible Israeli involvement in an incident at the Natanz nuclear site in Iran — an event labeled a “terrorist action” by the head of Iran’s atomic energy agency.

CNN meanwhile reported that a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Behrouz Kamalvand said: “Fortunately, the incident did not cause any human injuries or leaks.”

“The causes of the accident are under investigation and further information will be announced later.”

AEOI condemned the incident, calling it a “terrorist action,” according to the Iranian telegram channel of the Revolution Guard Corps, or IRGC, a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces.

CNN reported that just hours after Iranian officials reported the incident, Israel’s army chief Aviv Kochavi said the country’s “operations throughout the Middle East are not hidden from the eyes of the enemies.”

“They are watching us, seeing the capabilities and carefully considering their steps,” he said.

Israel’s Prime Minister’s office offered no comment on the reports, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Iran Sunday at a toast to mark the anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel.

“The struggle against Iran and its proxies and the Iranian armament efforts is a huge mission,” he said.

“The situation that exists today will not necessarily be the situation that will exist tomorrow.”

Netanyahu is due to meet Monday with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin who is on a visit to the country, CNN reported.