The Natanz nuclear site was hit by an attack on Sunday which Iran called “nuclear terrorism” and a “war crime”. The attack, which Iran blamed on Israel, targeted the electricity distribution network of the Natanz enrichment facility and caused a blackout.

On Saturday, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting said the Intelligence Ministry had identified the man behind the act of sabotage, adding that the suspect was identified by the ministry’s forces as Reza Karimi.

“The perpetrator of the sabotage act at the Natanz nuclear facility, whose picture has been published for the first time, is Reza Karimi, who fled abroad before the incident,” the IRIB reported.

According to the report, Tehran is taking legal actions at the international level to have him arrested and returned to Iran.

The picture was released days after a security source said the key individual responsible for the incident has been identified.

“Necessary measures are being taken to arrest the main element behind the disruption in the power system of Natanz complex,” Nour News on Monday quoted the source as saying.

Following the Natanz attack, Iran notified the International Atomic Energy Agency of a plan to start 60-percent uranium enrichment, which has different applications, one of which is for the production of radiopharmaceuticals.

On Friday, Tehran announced that its first batch of 60-percent enriched uranium was ready at the Natanz nuclear facility.

The developments coincide with high-profile talks in Austria’s capital, Vienna, to restore the Iran nuclear deal of 2015, which was savagely attacked by former US President Donald Trump, who withdrew from the pact in 2018.

The United States has rejected any involvement in the Natanz incident, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki saying “We have nothing to add on speculation about the causes or the impacts.”

But observers believe Israel, through the act of sabotage, intended to kill the prospects of a revival of the nuclear deal, which would include the lifting of the United States’ illegal sanctions on Iran. Iranian officials agree with the analysis.

US warns Israel to stop chatter on Natanz attack

The Israeli regime’s Channel 12 reported on Friday the US has conveyed to Israel in no uncertain terms that Tel Aviv’s “chatter” over its involvement in the Natanz attack must stop as it was “dangerous and detrimental” to the Joe Biden administration that is attempting to negotiate a return to the Iran nuclear deal.

The message, according to the report, was conveyed to Tel Aviv through several channels in recent days.

Israel, as a matter of policy, neither confirms nor denies such acts. But this time, there has been plenty of anonymous confirmation in the media by unnamed intelligence and Western officials. Also, senior Israeli officials, including the regime’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have publicly hinted at Israeli role in the attack.

Top Iranian generals have repeatedly warned Iran’s enemies – Israel in particular – that the country’s Armed Forces are ready to respond firmly to any threat or malicious act.

“We are ready to respond decisively to any kind of threat and evil action of the enemies,” Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said in a message on Friday.

Baqeri added that the Iranian Armed Forces have undermined the Israeli regime’s strategy of using threats against the Islamic Republic.

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However, there are mixed reactions to the incident. The White House has not taken an official stance on the matter, while an informed official in the Biden administration spoke with the Washington Post, stating that the Biden administration has observed the reports on the Natanz incident, denying any interference by the U.S., saying they have nothing to add to the rumors surrounding the story.

The European Union stated that the incident “might be a destructive action” amid nuclear talks with Iran, calling any efforts to stop the negotiations “unacceptable.”

The EU has said that the issue of Iran’s nuclear deal should be resolved through dialogue, not offensive actions.

The International Atomic Energy Agency spokesman, Fredrik Dahl, spoke with the Rianovosti on Monday, stating that the IAEA is aware of the incident and is in touch with the Iranian officials.

“We are aware of yesterday’s media report on Natanz and are in contact with Iranian officials in this regard.” Dahl said.

Germany, one of the P4+1 countries that has a seat in the Vienna negotiations, expressed concerns over the adverse effects of the incident on the Vienna negotiations.

Heiko Maas, German Foreign Minister, stated on Monday that “what we are currently hearing from Tehran, especially from Natanz, is not a positive thing for the negotiations.”

Maas said that the Vienna talks would not be “easy”, however, there has been a “constructive spirit,” shown by the participants in the negotiations.

“The situation in Natanz will take on a ‘special meaning’ and could provide clues as to the extent to which what is being discussed in Vienna will be implemented by Tehran,” Maas added.

Russia showed a stronger reaction. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated, “If the incident was a deliberate attack, it should be strongly condemned.”

She expressed hope that what happened in Natanz will not become a “gift” to the enemies of the JCPOA and will not weaken the talks in Vienna to revive this agreement.

She continued by saying that Russia has been closely following the reports of the incident, “We are closely following media reports and statements by Iranian officials regarding the situation at the uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, where a serious incident has taken place. We are sure that the cause of this incident will be fully investigated by the Iranian side.”

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“When Mr. Trump came to power, Iran used only IR1 centrifuge, today it operates a chain of IR6 centrifuges,” Zarif said during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Tehran.

Zarif reminded the current U.S. government that the “maximum pressure” policy against Iran does not work.

“And Americans should not forget that when Donald Trump took office, Iran had 300kgs of enriched uranium, while now we have more than 4000kgs of enriched uranium,” Zarif stated.

Noting that Iran will come back stronger after sabotage at the Natanz electricity grid, Zarif said, “Before the recent terrorist attack, 5,000 IR1 centrifuges were enriching (uranium) in Natanz. After the recent terrorist attack, we will definitely go back to more advanced centrifuges.”

The high-ranking diplomat emphasized after 42 years of testing the Iranian people, the Americans should have understood that the way to deal with Iran is not making threats.

“The way to deal with Iran is not nuclear terrorism,” the minister remarked.

In remarks at the Parliament National security and Foreign Policy Committee on Monday Zarif called the sabotage at Natanz nuclear terrorism.

The Iranian foreign minister also thanked Russia for its position against the sabotage in the facility, and put an emphasis on the need for continued cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.

He also urged the United States to return to its obligations under the JCPOA without delay and to lift all sanctions on Iran.

Iran has been insisting that the U.S. must lift all sanctions in one step and that their lifting should verified.
Official in Iran has been insisting that if all sanctions are lifted and verified Iran will overturn its remedial measures.

“Slowly Iran will also take action after verification, and we have no problem returning to fulfilling our obligations,” Zarif reiterated.

‘Sabotage and sanctions won’t give U.S. tools for pressure in nuclear deal talks’    

Zarif added, “Americans need to know that neither sanctions nor sabotage will give them the tools to negotiate, and they need to know that these actions will make things more difficult for them.”

Zarif also urged the U.S. to provide a list of all sanctions it has imposed on Iran.

Reportedly the U.S. imposed 1,600 sanctions on Iran under different designations.

“If the United States wants to be able to return to the JCPOA, it must lift all sanctions and provide a list of all sanctions,” the chief diplomat said.

He added, “According to the JCPOA, it is the duty of the United States to provide a list of sanctions.”

“EU losing relevance”

The minister then shifted to European Union’s Monday action in boycotting a number of Iranian military and judicial officials.

“In recent years, the European Union has shown that it is gradually losing its relevance in international relations by failing to meet its obligations and succumbing to U.S. pressure.”

Zarif went on to bash the EU for their shameful position in regard to sabotage in Natanz along with sanctioning a number of Iranian officials, saying the EU should condemn the U.S. “terrorist threat” against the food and medicine security of more than 82 million Iranians.

Iran has called U.S. illegal sanctions imposed during the Trump presidency as examples of “economic terrorism” and “medical terrorism”.
So far, the EU has avoided to condemn sabotage in Natanz, just saying the incident “might be a destructive action” amid nuclear deal talks with Iran.

“Instead of what happened at Iran’s enrichment complex, which is under the supervision of the IAEA, they ignore these issues very softly and at the same time act against the Iranian military authorities,” Zarif regretted.

“Great shame for Europe”

Foreign Minister Zarif also said it is “great shame” for Europe that it follows the policies pursued by most extremist groups in the U.S. and Israel.

These events prove to the world that the European Union “has no place in the world”, he said, adding, “The European Union is not only following the policies of the United States, but also the most extremist groups within the United States and the Zionist regime, and I think this is a great shame for Europe.”

He said the Foreign Ministry will definitely deal with this action by the EU, announcing that Iran is considering the possibility of imposing sanctions on Europeans who were involved in “this illegal move”.

He said the European Union is not morally in a superior position in respect in terms of upholding human rights.

“Europe should know that it is not in a moral superior position and cannot preach to the world, a Europe in which xenophobia and anti-Islamism have created terrible conditions for Muslims. This Europe has neither the reputation nor the position to boycott the Iranian authorities.”

Zarif expresses hope production of Sputnik V vaccine will start in Iran  

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif expressed hope that with the agreement reached between Tehran and Moscow production of Sputnik V vaccine will start in Iran.

He also expressed hope that it will be possible for Iran to buy more vaccines from Russia to meet its needs.

Iran-Russia at “highest level of interaction,” Lavrov says

For his part, Lavrov said that Tehran and Moscow have reached the “highest level of interaction” in bilateral relations.

He also said that in his Monday talks with Zarif the two parties discussed the prospects of bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, human rights and other fields with a primary focus on joint projects in the field of energy transfer.

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