A top Iranian official has acknowledged for the first time that Israel supplied Iran with centrifuge platforms containing explosives for its nuclear enrichment program. The comments, made by former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, underscore the sophistication of sabotage programs targeting Iran's nuclear facilities and highlight the challenges Iran's government faces under Western sanctions.
FILE - A portion of the 1040 U.S. Individual Income Tax Return form is shown July 24, 2018, in New York. The IRS said Tuesday, June 21, 2022, that it will have erased its backlog of last season's tax returns by the end of this week.
FILE - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gestures during a news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at the Tampa Electric Company offices in Tampa, Fla. DeSantis urges local, state agencies to get ‘ready, willing and able to assist’ with Trump’s immigration policies Read full article: DeSantis urges local, state agencies to get ‘ready, willing and able to assist’ with Trump’s immigration policiesDiscover Jacksonville on a budget-friendly day trip with an AI-crafted itineraryHere's how to get fabulous items to make life around the house easier, more organized and tidy — all while saving big.FILE - This photo released Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. FILE - Reformist candidate for the Iran's presidential election Masoud Pezeshkian clenches his fist after casting his vote as he is accompanied by former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, at a polling station in Shahr-e-Qods near Tehran, Iran, Friday, July 5, 2024. FILE - This photo released Nov. 5, 2019, by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, shows centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. – Israel supplied Iran with centrifuge platforms containing explosives for its nuclear enrichment program, a top Iranian official has acknowledged for the first time, underscoring the sophistication of sabotage programs targeting the Islamic Republic., appear aimed at explaining to the country’s disaffected public the challenges Iran's government faces under crushing Western sanctions over the program. The comments also acknowledged details previously reported in Israel about a 2021 attack on Iran's underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.— and threatens to directly target its nuclear sites as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to re-enter the White House next week.Zarif made the remarks in an interview with a program affiliated with the Institute for the Compilation and Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works, a publicly funded organization in Iran. Politicians from Iran's reformist camp, which seeks to change Iran's Shiite theocracy from within, often seek different media outlets to reach the public as Iranian state television is controlled by hard-liners. Zarif, who helped Iran reach its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, discussed a sabotage attack launched by Israel's Mossad intelligence agencyin September. The two waves of attacks killed 42 people and wounded thousands more, setting the stage for Israel's invasion of Lebanon in October. “This is part of the damage of sanctions, that you are forced to receive through multiple dealers instead of buying from a factory directly," Zarif said."If the Zionist regime can infiltrate one of the dealers, then it can do anything and install anything.” He added:"For instance, our friends at the Atomic Energy Organization had purchased a platform for centrifuges in which had installed explosive material.”a mysterious explosion tore apart Natanz’s advanced centrifuge assemblygave an interview to Israeli television in which he all but acknowledged his spies executed the two attacks. The show said a saboteur “made sure to supply to the Iranians the marble foundation on which the centrifuges are placed" that included"an enormous amount of explosives.” The attacks happened under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has led Israel through the Mideast wars since Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 people and saw 250 others taken hostage. Since then, Israel's war targeting Hamas in Gaza has killed more than, concerns have grown over Iran's nuclear program. Since Trump in 2018 unilaterally withdrew the U.S. from an international accord greatly restricting Iran's program, Tehran has broken through all limits of the deal.Iran's president gives U.S. broadcast interview Iranian officials insist their nuclear program is peaceful and they want to negotiate with the West over it.in an interview aired Tuesday night. “It’s in the commitments that arise from talk and dialogue that we’ll have to commit to.” He added: “We upheld all the commitments that we had to commit to. But unfortunately it was the other party that did not live up to its promises and obligations.” Israel, President Joe Biden and Trump have repeatedly warned they will not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon. That's raised fears of a preemptive Israeli strike targeting Iranian nuclear sites, something Israel has done in both Iraq and Syria. Asked about the possibility of such a strike, Pezeshkian said: “We do not fear war, but we don't seek it."Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi and Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Here's how to get fabulous items to make life around the house easier, more organized and tidy — all while saving big.
IRAN ISRAEL NUCLEAR PROGRAM SABOTAGE SANCTIONS ZARIF
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israel reportedly struggles to counter Houthi attacksHouthis launched over 200 ballistic missiles, 170 drones at Israeli targets, according to Israeli daily Maariv.
Read more »
Iran Could Build Nuclear Weapon in 'Weeks', Ex-Israeli Ambassador WarnsA former Israeli ambassador to the U.S. has warned that Iran could have an operational nuclear weapon within weeks, raising concerns that Tehran might attempt to make a final push before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
Read more »
Iran Recruits Children for Attacks on Israeli and Jewish Targets in EuropeIran is employing young children to carry out attacks against Israeli and Jewish targets across Europe, marking a concerning trend amidst the decline of Iranian influence in the Middle East. Recent incidents in Sweden, Belgium, and Norway highlight Tehran's expansion of its proxy war against Israel onto European soil. Iranian recruiters are targeting minors on platforms like Telegram, TikTok, and WhatsApp, exploiting their vulnerability and promising financial incentives.
Read more »
Iran Targets Nordic Countries, Recruiting Minors for Attacks on Israeli SitesA concerning report exposes Iranian efforts to recruit children as young as 13 to carry out attacks against Jewish and Israeli targets in Nordic countries. Recent incidents involving minors attempting to attack Israeli targets have raised alarm, prompting warnings from Nordic governments about Iran's growing influence and recruitment tactics.
Read more »
Italy Demands Release of Journalist Held in Iran, Iran Counters with Prisoner SwapItaly has demanded the release of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, arrested in Iran without due process, while Iran has countered with a prisoner swap, demanding the release of Mohammad Abedini Najafabadi, an Iranian drone expert arrested by Italy on behalf of the United States.
Read more »
Iran ‘never' plotted to kill Trump during campaign, Iran's president tells NBC NewsIran “never” plotted to assassinate Donald Trump during last year’s U.S. election campaign, President Masoud Pezeshkian told NBC News.
Read more »