IRANIAN authorities have foiled a sabotage attempt involving tanks used for the transportation of heavy water, a key component in nuclear reactors, an Iranian newspaper reported Thursday.

    The independent Arman daily quoted Asghar Zarean, deputy head of Iran’s nuclear department, as saying that Iranian nuclear experts thwarted the sabotage attempt “in recent weeks” but did not provide a more specific timing.

    An unidentified foreign country was behind the attempt, Zarean added without elaborating. He did not indicate what kind of result the sabotage meant to achieve.

    Heavy water is not radioactive but it is essential in both reactors that generate power and in those used in manufacturing nuclear weapons.

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

    Iran is in talks with the six world powers — the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany — on reaching a comprehensive agreement on Tehran’s uranium enrichment program, which can make both reactor fuel and the fissile core of nuclear arms.

    (SD-Agencies)