The report published in Hamshahri daily said the “Ukrainian expert” was affiliated with a Russian contractor that works in Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran.

The report did not elaborate on the timing or nature of the alleged sabotage at the plant which went online in 2011 with Russian aid.

Hamshahri suggested that third parties which the regime is forced to buy  Western-made parts from due to sanction,  are involved in sabotaging parts before they arrive in Iran.

Hamshari 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 defense contractor Lockheed Martin, has been involved in manipulating parts that Iran needs for its nuclear facilities.