Governor of Natanz:
-Firefighting units dispatched this morning
-Incident took place in an open area of, no disruption in site activities
Following explosions in a military site east of Tehran & a medical center inside the capital, concerns are escalating across the country.
-Firefighting units dispatched this morning
-Incident took place in an open area of, no disruption in site activities
Following explosions in a military site east of Tehran & a medical center inside the capital, concerns are escalating across the country.
#UPDATE
#Iran regime officials claimed quickly today's "incident" in Natanz was nothing but an "accident" at a "site under construction."
Satellite images, however, show finalized construction of reinforced facilities.
Me:
This was no minor "incident."
Credit: @IntelliTimes
#Iran regime officials claimed quickly today's "incident" in Natanz was nothing but an "accident" at a "site under construction."
Satellite images, however, show finalized construction of reinforced facilities.
Me:
This was no minor "incident."
Credit: @IntelliTimes
#UPDATE
Aerial footage showing the location of this morning's incident/explosion at the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in central #Iran
Comparison to older images provided to show location of the specific building.
Credit: @IntelliTimes
Aerial footage showing the location of this morning's incident/explosion at the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in central #Iran
Comparison to older images provided to show location of the specific building.
Credit: @IntelliTimes
#BREAKING
UNCONFIRMED reports indicate the explosion in Natanz took place at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), located above ground in the complex & enriches UF6 to up to 20% enriched uranium fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor.
There is also talk of another Stuxnet.
UNCONFIRMED reports indicate the explosion in Natanz took place at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), located above ground in the complex & enriches UF6 to up to 20% enriched uranium fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor.
There is also talk of another Stuxnet.
#UPDATE
Quoting the @TheGoodISIS
"The site of the fire at the Natanz Enrichment Plant identified in an AEOI photo is the same building the Institute identified as centrifuge assembly workshop in 2017. See: isis-online.org/isis-reports/d…
Also, see damages in last image.
Quoting the @TheGoodISIS
"The site of the fire at the Natanz Enrichment Plant identified in an AEOI photo is the same building the Institute identified as centrifuge assembly workshop in 2017. See: isis-online.org/isis-reports/d…
Also, see damages in last image.
#Iran's official IRIB network broadcasting footage of the regime's Atomic Energy Org. spokesperson touring the site in Natanz where the regime has its largest uranium enrichment complex.
Remaining footage of the interview/tour at the Natanz site.
Quite interesting that there is no aerial/drone footage of the site to see damage from above.
And the official is going by the "nothing to see here" scenario.
Is Iran hiding something?
Me: Yes
Quite interesting that there is no aerial/drone footage of the site to see damage from above.
And the official is going by the "nothing to see here" scenario.
Is Iran hiding something?
Me: Yes
Analysts: Fire at Iran nuke site hit new centrifuge facility
-Flames from the blaze were bright enough to be detected by satellite from space
-Fire is "very, very suspicious"
-Stuxnet
-Series of explosions in Iran feel like “more than a coincidence.”
apnews.com/50c3e7f6445ae9…
-Flames from the blaze were bright enough to be detected by satellite from space
-Fire is "very, very suspicious"
-Stuxnet
-Series of explosions in Iran feel like “more than a coincidence.”
apnews.com/50c3e7f6445ae9…
More analysis
Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi rushed after the fire to Natanz, which has been targeted in sabotage campaigns in the past.
An unnamed former Iranian nuclear official told Reuters that sabotage was a possibility.
timesofisrael.com/incident-damag…
Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi rushed after the fire to Natanz, which has been targeted in sabotage campaigns in the past.
An unnamed former Iranian nuclear official told Reuters that sabotage was a possibility.
timesofisrael.com/incident-damag…
A Mid-East intel official said the blast was caused by an explosive device planted inside the facility. The explosion, he said, destroyed much of the aboveground parts of the facility where new centrifuges are balanced before they are put into operation.
nytimes.com/2020/07/02/us/…
nytimes.com/2020/07/02/us/…
"It seems like it could be sabotage. It’s a high-value site for the Iranians. It’s a very important building," said David Albright, president of the Institute for Science & Int'l Security.
#UPDATE
Setback for #Iran’s Nuclear Program After Mystery Fire at Centrifuge Assembly Site
"... the damage to the facility was so large that it did not appear to have been caused by an industrial accident."
voanews.com/middle-east/vo…
Setback for #Iran’s Nuclear Program After Mystery Fire at Centrifuge Assembly Site
"... the damage to the facility was so large that it did not appear to have been caused by an industrial accident."
voanews.com/middle-east/vo…
#UPDATE
Main takes from the important VOA piece by @Michael_Lipin.
Keep an eye out for:
-#Iran conducting executions of "spies."
-Iran's proxy groups across the Middle East launching retaliatory measures targeting the interests of the U.S. & its allies.
Main takes from the important VOA piece by @Michael_Lipin.
Keep an eye out for:
-#Iran conducting executions of "spies."
-Iran's proxy groups across the Middle East launching retaliatory measures targeting the interests of the U.S. & its allies.
“It would delay the advancement of the centrifuge technology quite a bit at Natanz,” Hinz said. “Once you have done your research and development, you can’t undo that research and development. Targeting them would be very useful” for Iran’s adversaries.
cnbc.com/2020/07/02/ana…
cnbc.com/2020/07/02/ana…
#UPDATE
Thursday's explosion in #Iran's Natanz nuclear site targeted an important component of the regime's ability to advance its enrichment capability & speed.
Footage from the site indicates a sophisticated explosion & not a large fire.
Left image credit: @IntelliTimes
Thursday's explosion in #Iran's Natanz nuclear site targeted an important component of the regime's ability to advance its enrichment capability & speed.
Footage from the site indicates a sophisticated explosion & not a large fire.
Left image credit: @IntelliTimes
#UPDATE
A Kuwaiti newspaper cites unnamed senior sources saying:
1) An Israeli cyberattack caused the recent explosion/fire #Iran's Natanz nuclear site
2) Israeli F35s bombed a military complex east of Tehran last Friday
Note: This is not confirmed.
timesofisrael.com/report-israeli…
A Kuwaiti newspaper cites unnamed senior sources saying:
1) An Israeli cyberattack caused the recent explosion/fire #Iran's Natanz nuclear site
2) Israeli F35s bombed a military complex east of Tehran last Friday
Note: This is not confirmed.
timesofisrael.com/report-israeli…
#BREAKING
Iran's Supreme Nat Sec Council:
Main cause of fire at Natanz nuclear site has been specified after reviewing evidence & various scenarios. However, due to "security reservations," it will be announced at an appropriate time.
Me:
Attack scenario becoming more likely.
Iran's Supreme Nat Sec Council:
Main cause of fire at Natanz nuclear site has been specified after reviewing evidence & various scenarios. However, due to "security reservations," it will be announced at an appropriate time.
Me:
Attack scenario becoming more likely.
#UPDATE
First satellite images showing the aftermath of the July 2 explosion/fire at the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in central #Iran.
Building visibly suffered extensive damage.
More reason why state media did not provide drone footage of the site.
Credit: @planetlabs
First satellite images showing the aftermath of the July 2 explosion/fire at the Natanz nuclear enrichment site in central #Iran.
Building visibly suffered extensive damage.
More reason why state media did not provide drone footage of the site.
Credit: @planetlabs
#BREAKING
Three Iranian officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said they believed the fire was the result of a cyber attack, but did not cite any evidence.
One official said the attack had targeted the centrifuge assembly building.
#Iran
reuters.com/article/us-ira…
Three Iranian officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity said they believed the fire was the result of a cyber attack, but did not cite any evidence.
One official said the attack had targeted the centrifuge assembly building.
#Iran
reuters.com/article/us-ira…
Two of the officials said Israel could have been behind the Natanz incident, but offered no evidence.
Asked on Thursday evening about recent incidents reported at strategic Iranian sites, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters: “Clearly we can’t get into that.”
Asked on Thursday evening about recent incidents reported at strategic Iranian sites, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters: “Clearly we can’t get into that.”
In 2010, Stuxnet computer virus, widely believed to have been developed by the US & Israel, was discovered after it attacked Natanz.
Natanz was built in secret without the IAEA’s knowledge but was exposed by the Iranian opposition group NCRI (@iran_policy) in 2002.
Natanz was built in secret without the IAEA’s knowledge but was exposed by the Iranian opposition group NCRI (@iran_policy) in 2002.
David Albright on recent developments in #Iran:
"There aren't a lot of things blowing up in a centrifuge assembly building... There's a possibility of sabotage.
Extremely valuable building to the Iranians. They may not have another building to assemble centrifuges today."
"There aren't a lot of things blowing up in a centrifuge assembly building... There's a possibility of sabotage.
Extremely valuable building to the Iranians. They may not have another building to assemble centrifuges today."
#UPDATE
Site of fire is a new advanced centrifuge assembly workshop, located near the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. Both are important features of the Natanz site, w/ the workshop being a critical part of Iran’s plan to deploy 1000s of adv. centrifuges.
Credit: @TheGoodISIS
Site of fire is a new advanced centrifuge assembly workshop, located near the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant. Both are important features of the Natanz site, w/ the workshop being a critical part of Iran’s plan to deploy 1000s of adv. centrifuges.
Credit: @TheGoodISIS
