Enlarge image
In the focus of the global public: The Natans nuclear facility
Photo: - / dpa
Iran is currently negotiating indirectly with the USA about a new nuclear deal in Vienna.
Meanwhile, Israel, the United States' most important ally in the Middle East, is insisting that its own security be guaranteed in any new treaty.
In cooperation with the US government, it must be ensured that new agreements with Tehran ensure "the protection of the State of Israel," said Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at a meeting with his US colleague Lloyd Austin on Sunday.
Enlarge image
First met in person as Secretary of Defense: Benny Gantz and Lloyd Austin
Photo: Matty Stern / dpa
Meanwhile, this weekend Iran reported the commissioning of new centrifuges for faster uranium enrichment - as well as a "terrorist" act of sabotage against a nuclear facility in Natan.
The broadcaster Press TV reported that there was a problem in the power grid of the Natans nuclear facility.
Nobody was injured and there was no contamination.
The cause will be investigated.
The head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency, Ali-Akbar Salehi, said it was "anti-nuclear terrorism" to which the international community and the IAEA should respond.
At the same time, he condemned the "act of terrorism" as an "insignificant act".
On Israeli radio it was said that the foreign intelligence service Mossad was behind the act of sabotage.
The daily newspaper »Haaretz« reported on a digital attack.
President Hassan Rohani had officially inaugurated almost 200 new centrifuges of the type IR-5 and IR-6 at the Natans nuclear facility on Saturday in an online ceremony broadcast by state television.
The commissioning of the centrifuges could not be seen.
However, engineers at Natan's nuclear facility said they started the gas centrifuge process after the Rouhani's order.
The nuclear agreement concluded in Vienna in 2015 allows Iran to enrich uranium exclusively with the older generation of centrifuges IR-1.
In addition, Iran is allowed to test a limited number of IR-4 and IR-5 centrifuges.
The centrifuges now in operation enable Iran to enrich uranium in large quantities and to a higher degree than approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Rohani also officially opened a new manufacturing facility for centrifuges in the Natans complex this weekend.
It is supposed to replace a factory that was badly damaged in an explosion last July.
At the time, the Iranian authorities spoke of an "act of sabotage" by "terrorists".
dop / AFP / Reuters
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/U2KSL34UTV4DROZKNOFSLSXMGU.jpg)
