Iran claims it foiled attack on nuke site

TEHRAN: Iranian authorities have thwarted what they called a “sabotage attack” targeting a civilian nuclear facility near the country’s capital, state TV reported on Wednesday, as details about the incident remained unclear.

The attempted attack against a building belonging to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization “left no casualties or damages and was unable to disrupt the Iranian nuclear programme”, Iranian state television reported. Iranian media offered no details on the kind of attack, saying only that the move targeted a sprawling nuclear centre located in Karaj city, 40km northwest of Tehran.

When asked for comment, an Iranian official referred to the initial report by Nournews, believed to be close to Iran’s supreme national security council. Iranian authorities did not specify which facility in Karaj had been targeted. There are two sites associated with Iran’s nuclear programme known to be in the area - Karaj Agricultural and Medical Research Center.

Meanwhile, Iran said on Wednesday the US had agreed to remove all sanctions on Iran’s oil and shipping, although Germany cautioned that major issues remained at talks between Tehran and world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal.

The Iranian remarks, by outgoing President Hassan Rouhani’s chief of staff, echoed previous assertions by officials in Rouhani’s camp that Washington is prepared to make major concessions at the talks, underway since April in Vienna.