The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization confirmed that the fire that broke out last month at the Natanz nuclear facility was the result of an act of sabotage, denying that the International Atomic Energy Organization was allowed to inspect its country's facilities.
"The explosion that occurred at the Natanz nuclear facility was the result of sabotage operations ... the security authorities will reveal the cause of the explosion at the appropriate time," Behrouz Kamalondi, spokesman for the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, said in a press statement.
The security authorities in Iran had confirmed in July that the cause of the fire had been determined, but it would be announced at a later time.
Iranian officials said the fire caused severe damage that would slow down the development of advanced centrifuges, used to enrich uranium.
They added that it might be the result of electronic sabotage, warning that Tehran would respond to any country that carried out such attacks.
In another context, Kamalondi said, "We never said that we would not allow the International Atomic Energy Organization to inspect our facilities, but this matter will take place when it stops making such allegations."
He added that the allegations of the international agency must include serious documents, and be based on clear grounds, not espionage allegations, as he put it.
This comes after the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, said that he would make his first visit to Iran since taking office on Monday, with the aim of putting pressure on Tehran to allow inspectors to enter two former nuclear sites around which suspicions revolve around.