A day after touting progress in its nuclear research program, Iran announced one of its research sites was “attacked” and blamed Israel. Israel seems to be slyly acknowledging responsibility.
Summary
An attack leaving the Natanz atomic facility in the dark has been called “nuclear terrorism” by Iranian officials.
- The apparent attack took place shortly after Iran celebrated the launch of “advanced centrifuges” used to enrich uranium at Natanz.
- Iran’s Foreign Minister blamed Israel and threatened to take revenge on the Jewish state.
- The blackout comes as a group of nations are working to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal between the United States, Iran, and other key nations, progress of which has been slow as the Biden administration has said it will not repeal all of the Trump era economic sanctions on Tehran.
- The Prime Minister of South Korea is traveling to Iran to facilitate a renewed nuclear agreement and to assist Iran secure billions in assets currently frozen in South Korea after the Iranian military seized a South Korean ship in January.
- A writeup by The Washington Post provided greater context for the latest development, saying Israeli military actions over recent months track with milestones in Iran’s nuclear program or news regarding the nuclear deal revival.
- CNN emphasized Israel’s likely responsibility for the Natanz attack, quoting Israeli officials using vague wording to say Iran knows what happened and should carefully consider its response.
- Before the Natanz incident, The New York Times editorial board declared Trump administration efforts to isolate Iran having failed (despite the historic peace agreements between Israel and former adversaries) and urged the Biden administration to re-engage and revive the Iran nuclear deal before it’s too late.
- Fox News’ report highlighted how the alleged Israeli action against Iranian nuclear capabilities “complicates” the Biden administration’s desire to restart the Iran nuclear deal.
- The Jerusalem Post frames the incident as one that puts Tehran in a situation in which its “global mafia-like blackmail” operations in jeopardy if it can so easily be prone to setbacks and attacks.
- Washington Examiner’s reporting on the Iran nuclear deal describe a US official’s lamentation that Iranian negotiators’ unwillingness to meet face to face is hampering progress.
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© Dallas Gerber, 2021
