Thursday Jun 19, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News Middle East

'Incident' damages construction near Iranian nuclear site

An "incident" damaged an under-construction building near the Natanz nuclear site, but no damage was caused to its centrifuge facility, Iranian spokesman says.

by  News Agencies and ILH Staff
Published on  07-02-2020 11:12
Last modified: 11-29-2020 08:25
'Incident' damages construction near Iranian nuclear siteReuters

The Natanz nuclear site in Iran | File photo: Reuters

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

An "incident" damaged an under-construction building Thursday near Iran's underground Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, though it did not affect its centrifuge operations or cause any release of radiation, an Iranian spokesman said.

The affected building, described as an "industrial shed," was above ground and not part of the enrichment facility itself, said Behrouz Kamalvandi, a spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Kamalvandi as saying there was "no need for concern" over the incident.

 Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

"There is no concern about the possibility of contamination as one of the sheds, which was inactive and under construction, was damaged and not the facility itself," Kamalvandi told IRNA.

However, there was no previously announced construction work at Natanz, a uranium enrichment center some 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of the capital, Tehran. Natanz includes underground facilities buried under some 7.6 meters (25 feet) of concrete, which offers protection from airstrikes.

Natanz is among the sites now monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency after Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment over the incident.

Last week, a large explosion from an area in the mountains east of Tehran, which analysts believe hides an underground tunnel system and missile production sites, shook the Iranian capital.

Centrifuge machines in the Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP)

Natanz, in Iran's central Isfahan province, hosts the country's main uranium enrichment facility. There, centrifuges rapidly spin uranium hexafluoride gas to enrich uranium. Currently, the IAEA says Iran enriches uranium to about 4.5% purity, above the terms of the nuclear deal, but far below weapons-grade levels of 90%.

The US under President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear deal in May 2018, setting up months of tensions between Tehran and Washington. Iran now is breaking all the production limits set by the deal, but still allows IAEA inspectors and cameras to watch its nuclear sites.

However, Natanz did become a point of controversy last year as Iranian officials refused to allow an IAEA inspector into the facility in October after allegedly testing positive for suspected traces of explosive nitrates. Nitrates are a common fertilizer. However, when mixed with proper amounts of fuel, the material can become an explosive as powerful as TNT. Swab tests, common at airports and other secure facilities, can detect its presence on the skin or objects.

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: IranNatanzNuclear

Related Posts

Erdoğan's delusional comparison: Netanyahu has 'surpassed Hitler'AP/ Office of Iranian Supreme Leader

Erdoğan's delusional comparison: Netanyahu has 'surpassed Hitler'

by Neta Bar

"Netanyahu long ago surpassed Hitler in perpetrating genocide, and we hope their destinies won't be identical. Netanyahu must face an...

Iran's mysterious sect faces extinction and they might be JewishUsage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Article 27(a)

Iran's mysterious sect faces extinction and they might be Jewish

by Mendy Shapiro

Several researchers propose that the Mandaeans constitute a Jewish sectarian group that diverged during the Second Temple period – possibly...

Iran warns: 'Supporting a US strike will lead to severe consequences'AFP / Iranian Army

 Iran has enriched uranium for 10 nuclear bombs, continues production

by Dudi Kogan and Neta Bar

A confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), obtained by The Wall Street Journal, confirms that Iran has...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il