Iran has begun to build a hall in "the heart of the mountains" near its Natanz nuclear site for the production of advanced centrifuges, Iran's nuclear chief said on Tuesday.
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It is meant to replace a production hall at the facility which was damaged by fire in July. Iran said at the time that the fire was the result of sabotage and had caused significant damage that could slow the development of advanced uranium enrichment centrifuges.
"It was decided to establish a more modern, wider and more comprehensive hall in all dimensions in the heart of the mountain near Natanz. Of course, the work has begun," said Ali Akbar Salehi, according to state TV.
The Natanz fire, according to a Middle Eastern source quoted in The New York Times shortly afterwards, was supposedly carried out by Israel using explosives. According to the Times report, it may have set back Iran's nuclear program by as much as two years because it targeted an area in the facility used for calibrating new centrifuges.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi warned that any country deemed responsible for the explosion should expect a strong Iranian retaliation.
The explosion at Natanz came six days after a massive explosion near the Parchin military complex southeast of Tehran, which shook windows in the Iranian capital.
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