For Immediate Release: April 11, 2021
Media Contacts: Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy, 202-463-8270 ext. 102; Daryl G. Kimball, executive director, 202-463-8270 ext. 107
Israel allegedly sabotaged the power supply for Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility April 11 causing a blackout at the main uranium enrichment plant. While the extent of the damage from the power outage remains unclear, this act of sabotage comes during a critical phase in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring the United States and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 multilateral nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The United States and Iran engaged in indirect discussions in Vienna last week and are scheduled to resume indirect talks with the other parties to the JCPOA on April 13.
QUICK QUOTES:
- “This act of sabotage damaged not only Natanz but also the Biden administration’s plan to return to compliance with the nuclear deal. Restoring the 2015 agreement and building on is the best way to address the risk posed by Iran’s nuclear program. The United States and Iran mustn't let this attack derail the progress being made in Vienna.”—Kelsey Davenport, director for nonproliferation policy, Arms Control Association
- “In the wake of the attacks on the Natanz nuclear facility, all International Atomic Energy Agency member states should support a thorough investigation of this incident and condemn this attack, and any other future attack, on nuclear facilities in any country. Just as it is essential that the international community must address any violations of nuclear nonproliferation commitments, it must respond to attacks involving physical sabotage of nuclear facilities as threats to international peace and security.” —Daryl Kimball, executive director, Arms Control Association
ANALYSIS:
- Julia Masterson and Kelsey Davenport, "Restoring the Nuclear Deal with Iran Benefits U.S. Nonproliferation Priorities," Arms Control Association Issue Brief, March 15, 2021
- Naysan Rafati, "The Arduous Path to Restoring the Iran Nuclear Deal," Arms Control Today, April 2021
FACTSHEETS:
- "Timeline of Nuclear Diplomacy with Iran," Arms Control Association Factsheet, March 2021
- "The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action: An Effective, Verifiable Nuclear Deal," Arms Control Association Factsheet, February 2021
- "Restoring the JCPOA’s Nuclear Limits," Arms Control Association Factsheet, February 2021