Iran blasts controlled test near Natanz nuclear facility | Nuclear Energy News

According to Iranian media, there was no damage during the air defense test.

Tehran, Iran – A loud explosion was heard near Iran’s main nuclear facility in Natanz, which had previously been the target of sabotage attacks, but state media said it was part of a controlled test.

A large explosion and a flash of light in the sky occurred at around 20:15 (16:45 GMT) in Badroud on Saturday, 20 kilometers (12 miles) from where the enrichment facilities are located.

Early reports speculated that a surface-to-air missile defense system was aimed at an enemy object, most likely a drone.

Nournews, a store near Iranian security forces, confirmed that an air defense missile had been fired and exploded in the sky, but said it was part of a rapid reaction test.

State television later confirmed this account, saying the test was part of a regular exercise by local air defense authorities. It was said that there was no local damage during the test.

The incident has repeatedly threatened Israel with military action, promising that Iran will not stop acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran has said it will never seek a nuclear arsenal against Israel, which has dozens of nuclear weapons. He has also been accused of two attacks on the Natanz facility last year, and another earlier this year on a Karaj centrifuge factory in Israel accusing him of “nuclear terrorism”.

Revealing division

Iran’s top military officials regularly respond to Israeli threats by saying that it does not dare to attack Israel because it will have a destructive response.

Israel’s top officials renewed threats against Iran last week when Iran and the world powers that are party to the 2015 nuclear deal met in Vienna, with the US unilaterally abandoning the deal in 2018.

The seventh round of talks, which ended on Friday, was not hopeful, revealing even more divisions between Iran and the West. The eighth round is expected next week.

Israel has been a staunch opponent of the deal, and was enthusiastically pleased when former US President Donald Trump resigned, imposing harsh sanctions on Tehran.

Iran’s nuclear program has made significant progress since the US withdrew from the agreement, and the country is enriching uranium to 60 percent, well above the 3.67 percent limit set in the agreement.

As the talks in Vienna began, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that Iran had taken another step forward in its nuclear effort, now enriching uranium to 20% purity at Fordow underground facilities.