Major Damage At Iran's Natanz Nuclear Facility

Natanz incident said to cause huge damage, set back Iran’s program by 9 months

JUDAH ARI GROSS 

The major power cut at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility, which Tehran described as an act of “nuclear terrorism,” apparently caused significant damage to the centrifuges and set back Iran’s uranium enrichment ability by several months, Israeli and US media quoted unnamed intelligence sources as saying Sunday.

Senior Israeli officials Israel hinted at, but did not confirm, involvement in the apparent cyberattack, although the New York Times cited American and Israeli intelligence officials confirming there had been an Israeli role.

An unnamed intelligence official told Israel’s Kan public broadcaster that the damage at the site was “serious” and that damage was apparently caused to the various centrifuges installed at the top-secret underground center, setting back Iran’s ability to enrich uranium.

The source said Iran’s abilities had been seriously set back and the timing of the apparent strike was not coincidental.

Israel’s Channel 13, also citing unnamed intelligence officials, offered a similar assessment, saying that the cyberattack caused “severe damage at the heart of Iran’s enrichment program.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times, citing two intelligence officials briefed on the damage, said that “it had been caused by a large explosion that completely destroyed the independent — and heavily protected — internal power system that supplies the underground centrifuges that enrich uranium.”

The report said that it would take at least nine months to restore Natanz’s production.

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