Radiation Warning Symbol. Public Domain.
The Iranian Parchin military complex has long been at the center of the unsolved mystery of whether or not Iran has worked on developing nuclear weapons. Now it is at the center of a new mystery: Why an explosion at the compound appears to have leveled at least two buildings.
Israel Defense Magazine reported that multiple buildings at the center of the Parchin compound, which is suspected of having housed tests on triggers for nuclear weapons, have been destroyed by some type of blast. The Times of Israel has also carried reports on the explosion.
The Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) reviewed satellite imagery that seems to indicate at least six buildings were damaged or wiped out by an explosion. ISIS was unsure if this was the location of the blast, however, and was waiting for additional information.
ISIS also did not believe this to be near the same location as the suspected nuclear weapons explosive testing.
News reports have long reported covert attacks on the Iranian nuclear program, including the infamous Stuxnet computer virus cyberattack reported by the New York Times. It is unclear if the latest explosion was a more direct attack, an accident, or something else.
The mystery continues, and Parchin remains at the center of it.
(By Joshua Spurlock, www.themideastupdate.com, October 9, 2014)