A senior Iranian official Mohammad Javad Zarif has confirmed that Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency was behind a series of sabotage operations targeting Iran’s nuclear enrichment program. This admission sheds new light on the ongoing covert efforts to disrupt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, which have been a focal point of regional tensions for over a decade.
Zarif, who previously served as Iran’s foreign minister and now holds the position of vice president for strategic affairs, disclosed the information during an interview with an Iranian media outlet aligned with reformist views. His comments represent the first official acknowledgment of Israeli involvement in the sabotage of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Zarif explained that Mossad exploited Iran’s reliance on third-party suppliers, a consequence of the international sanctions imposed on the country, to introduce explosives into key components of Iran’s nuclear program. Specifically, he revealed that Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization had unknowingly purchased centrifuge platforms rigged with explosives, a tactic which had been employed by Israeli operatives. “For instance, our friends at the Atomic Energy Organization had purchased a platform for centrifuges in which [the Israelis] had installed explosive material,” Zarif said.
The sabotage efforts, which included a blast at Iran’s Natanz facility in 2020 and another in 2021, have long been attributed to Israel, although the country has not publicly confirmed its involvement. Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen indirectly acknowledged the agency’s role in an interview in 2021, stating that agents had supplied Iran with “marble foundations” containing explosives for its centrifuge platforms.
These revelations come at a time of heightened tensions in the region. Iran’s nuclear activities have become more contentious since the United States’ 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a deal aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear capabilities. In the wake of the US pullout, Iran has ramped up its uranium enrichment efforts, reaching levels that bring it closer to producing weapons-grade material.
The sabotage activities are part of a broader strategy by Israel, which has consistently vowed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to take all necessary actions to thwart Iran’s nuclear program, further fueling concerns that Israel may carry out preemptive strikes.
Meanwhile, Zarif emphasized that the Iranian nuclear program remains peaceful in nature, despite growing suspicions from Israel and Western powers. He also underscored the vulnerabilities created by the sanctions regime, which forced Iran to source materials from less reliable intermediaries, making it susceptible to covert operations like the one carried out by Mossad.
As the situation in the Middle East remains volatile, attention is also turning to the return of Donald Trump to the White House on January 20. His administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran is expected to escalate tensions, further complicating efforts to address Iran’s nuclear ambitions diplomatically.
