A massive fire that broke out over the weekend at a factory in Iran is reportedly linked to the country’s nuclear program, raising suspicions that the fire was an act of sabotage.
Iran International reported that the fire, which was not widely reported outside Iran, erupted in the Shadabad iron market in Tehran.
Israeli intelligence research center Intelli Times said that the fire “consumed two metal factories that were engaged in the production of chips for parts of centrifuges and valves that can be used by Iran’s nuclear industry.”
The report said that the damage from the fire was cross-referenced with satellite images of the industrial area and maps identifying the companies located at the facilities.
One company that was burned down provides “engineering design and engraving services for the production of centrifugal compressors and valves,” while the other company that was burned down manufactured valves and pipes for the gas industry.
The valves and pipes can also be used by the nuclear industry to support uranium conversion and enrichment plants, the report said.
Andrea Stricker, deputy director and research fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy’s Nonproliferation & Biodefense Program, called attention to the fire in a post on X, saying that it was “something to watch.”
“Israel reportedly not targeting Iranian nuclear sites in upcoming counter-strike may simply mean no aerial bombing,” she said. “Supply chain facilities mysteriously catching fire, exploding, sudden unexplained damage, might be a different story.”
Israel has a long history of sabotaging and destroying Iranian nuclear facilities, including in the area where the fire broke out over the weekend.
Earlier this year, news broke that Iran covered up a covert Israeli operation in July 2020 that resulted in the destruction of an Iranian nuclear facility that was kept secret from international atomic regulators.
Iran International discovered the incident after sifting through millions of documents from Iran’s judiciary and the Ministry of Intelligence that were stolen by hackers.
The publication stumbled upon a case in which nine defendants were charged with “confrontation with the Islamic government,” “sabotage,” “destruction of one of the Atomic Energy Organization’s devices,” “acts against national security through cooperation with Israel,” and possession of firearms and drugs.
An anonymous person claiming to be a disgruntled creditor contacted three brothers and asked them to hire a team of criminals to set the secret atomic workshop on fire. The brothers, who hired six additional cohorts, were paid 2.7 billion rials ($10,000 at the time) and told they would be paid more if they destroyed the facility by setting it on fire and filming it.
The nine defendants stormed the facility in an old neighborhood in southwestern Tehran with weapons, tied up the guard, and destroyed at least some of the equipment inside, the report said.
The attack “became one of the most significant national security issues in Iran, with reports reaching Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic,” the report said.
All nine defendants were arrested within a month and were accused of acting on behalf of Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, commonly known as Mossad.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says that it was never alerted by Iran to the existence of the facility, a clear violation of international law.
One of the puzzling aspects of the case was that Khamenei ordered harsh punishments for those behind the attack, and yet the most severe sentence handed down was only 10 years, while some got as few as just four years.
Iran routinely executes those who are accused of spying or acting on behalf of Israel or the United States.
A former member of Iran’s Parliament who has extensive knowledge of Iran’s nuclear activities told Iran International: “I am almost familiar with all the nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic and have often seen these centers up close, but I have never heard of such facilities in the Shadabad area. Considering that the Ministry of Intelligence and the judiciary believe this incident was the work of Israel, we are definitely talking about an important workshop.”
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