Iran accuses Ukrainian of sabotaging its nuclear programme

A Ukrainian has been arrested on suspicion of sabotage at Iran's nuclear power plant, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The report in the Hamshahri daily said the "Ukrainian expert" was affiliated with a Russian contractor that works in Iran's Bushehr plant, which went online in 2011 with Russian aid.

The report did not elaborate on the timing or nature of the alleged sabotage.

Iran has long accused the United States, Israel and European countries of sabotaging its nuclear programme.

International sanctions force Iran to buy Western-made parts from third parties. Hamshahri suggested such parties were involved in sabotaging parts before they arrived in Iran,.

The report also quoted Asghar Zarean, deputy head of Iran's nuclear department in charge of security, as saying that Sandia National Laboratories, a New Mexico-based subsidiary of defence contractor Lockheed Martin, had been involved in manipulating parts that Iran needed for its nuclear facilities.