Attack on Natanz Nuclear Facility Shadows JCPOA Talks

Centrifuge machines at the heart of the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran, where uranium enrichment was halted after an electrical attack on the plant. Source: Aeoi Handout/EPA

Amidst negotiations between Iran, the United States, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom over the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility was attacked. The electrical attack destroyed many of the centrifuges, “eliminating the main part of our enrichment capacities" as Iranian state media reported. The day before the attack, Iran had expanded the number of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment. 

A spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry blamed Israel for the attack, saying that it was one instance in a series of “crimes against humanity which the Israeli regime has been doing for many years now.” Israel was strongly against the initial JCPOA deal and has remained vocal in its opposition to renewing negotiations. In a press briefing, the White House stated: “The US was not involved in any manner and we have nothing to add to speculation about the causes.”

The Natanz nuclear facility has been subject to various attacks over the years. A decade ago, the famed Stuxnet virus interfered with enrichment for years. On July 3, 2020, an explosion at the Natanz resulted in a fire and speculation that the United State (U.S.) and or Israel was involved. Starting January 1, 2021 Iran began enriching to 20% up from the 4.5% purity it had been enriching to in the years after the Trump administration pulled the U.S. out of the JCPOA.

When the Trump administration pulled out of the JCPOA, it decided to employ a “maximum pressure” strategy of economic sanctions. The Biden administration is working to rejoin the JCPOA, however the two countries are at an impasse. The U.S. wants Iran to lower its enrichment levels before releasing many of the sanctions while Iran wants the release of sanctions before lowering enrichment levels. 

The Biden administration has to walk a careful line. While the administration desires to rejoin the JCPOA, a bi-partisan group of senators (28 Republicans and 15 Democrats), including the majority and minority leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee sent a letter to President Biden concluding:

“While we may have differing views on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action of 2015 and the overall approach of the Trump Administration’s maximum pressure campaign, we must confront the reality that Iran has accelerated its nuclear activity in alarming ways including increasing its centrifuge research and production and enriching uranium up to 20 percent…. Iran should have no doubt about America’s policy. Democrats and Republicans may have tactical differences, but we are united on preventing an Iranian nuclear weapon and addressing the wide range of illicit Iranian behavior.”

There is bi-partisan concern about Iranian nuclear and non-nuclear activities and both sides caution about giving too much to Iran. In response to the attacks, Iran stated they would begin enrichment to 60% purity, up from 20% purity. Weapons grade uranium purity is 90% and the JCPOA capped Iranian purity to 3.67%. The attack and subsequent increase in enrichment levels will most certainly provide a new sense of urgency and tension as the JCPOA talks continue.