TEHRAN, Iran — Iran accused Germany’s Siemens on Saturday of implanting tiny explosives inside equipment the Islamic Republic purchased for its disputed nuclear program, a claim the technology giant denied.
P rominent lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Iranian security experts discovered the explosives and removed them before detonation, adding that authorities believe the booby-trapped equipment was sold to derail uranium-enrichment efforts.
“The equipment was supposed to explode after being put to work, in order to dismantle all our systems,” he said. “But the wisdom of our experts thwarted the enemy conspiracy.”
Siemens denied the claim and said its nuclear division has had no business with Iran since the 1979 revolution that led to its current clericalstate.
Boroujerdi, who heads the parliamentary security committee, alleged that the explosives were implanted at a Siemens factory and demanded the company take responsibility.
Any sale of nuclear equipment to Iran is banned under U.N. sanctions, raising the possibility that if it indeed has some, it may have been acquired through third parties.
The U.S. and its allies suspect Iran’s nuclear work is aimed at producing weapons. Iran says it only wants to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, and asserts it has been the target of a concerted campaign by Israel, the U.S. and their allies to undermine its nuclear efforts through covert operations.
Some Iranian officials also have suggested in the past that specific European companies may have sold faulty equipment to Iran with the knowledge of American intelligence agencies.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 09/23/2012