Iran says it foiled sabotage attempt on heavy water tanks

PanARMENIAN.Net - An Iranian newspaper said Thursday, Oct 30, authorities have foiled a sabotage attempt involving tanks used for the transportation of heavy water, a key component in nuclear reactors.

According to the Associated Press, the report in the independent Arman daily quotes Asghar Zarean, deputy head of Iran's nuclear department, as saying that Iranian experts thwarted the sabotage attempt "in recent weeks."

Zarean said a foreign country was behind the attempt but he didn't elaborate. Iran has only one known heavy water reactor under construction, in the central city of Arak.

Tehran has long accused the West of working to sabotage its nuclear program, which the international community suspects is geared for nuclear arms manufacturing. Iran denies the charges.

In September, authorities arrested a Ukrainian suspected of sabotage at the Bushehr nuclear power plant.