Iranian FM calls cyberattack on Natanz a 'war crime,' 'nuclear terrorism'

"The Zionists want to take revenge because of our progress in the way to lift sanctions... We will not fall into their trap...We will not allow this act of sabotage to affect the nuclear talks."

APRIL 12, 2021 22:42

THE NATANZ uranium enrichment facility 250 km. south of Tehran. (photo credit: RAHEB HOMAVANDI/REUTERS) — THE NATANZ uranium enrichment facility 250 km. south of Tehran.

(photo credit: RAHEB HOMAVANDI/REUTERS)

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday explicitly blamed Israel for the cyberattack on the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, saying it was a "war crime" and a form of "nuclear terrorism," in a letter to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Thread:1/3I wrote to UNSG:Deliberate targeting of a safeguarded nuclear facility—w/ high risk of indiscriminate release of radioactive material—is nuclear terrorism & a war crimeIsrael threatened and now boasts about action to prevent restoration of JCPOA after US election. pic.twitter.com/gMstxI4DfD
— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 12, 2021

"The Zionists want to take revenge because of our progress in the way to lift sanctions... We will not fall into their trap... We will not allow this act of sabotage to affect the nuclear talks," Zarif was quoted by state TV as saying.

"But we will take our revenge against the Zionists."

Multiple Israeli media outlets have quoted unnamed intelligence sources as saying the country's Mossad spy service carried out a successful sabotage operation at the underground Natanz complex, potentially setting back enrichment work there by up to nine months.

Israel – whose existence Iran does not recognize – has not formally commented on the incident. The White House said the United States was not involved in the attack and had no comment on speculation about the cause of the incident.

In the letter to Guterres, Zarif said those involved in the cyberattack "committed a grave war crime" and "any power with knowledge of, or acquiescence in, this act must also be held accountable as an accomplice to this war crime."