Ex-CIA agent: Iran blast largest sabotage case in decades

By YAAKOV LAPPIN, JPOST

Exclusive: Iranian dissident-turned CIA agent Kahlili tells ‘Post’ if such a blow was given to Fordow nuclear facility, it harms Iran drastically; says Tehran “has decided to retaliate against Israel from Lebanon.”

Iranian dissident-turned CIA agent Reza Kahlili told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that an alleged blast at the Fordow nuclear installation in Iran is “the largest case of sabotage in decades.”

Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization has dismissed reports of an explosion as “Western propaganda,” while the The Sunday Times cited Israeli intelligence figures as confirming the claim.

Speaking to the Post on Monday, Khalili expressed confidence that the alleged blast will receive “further coverage in the US,” and that “more information” will become available to verify the incident.

“This is the center of the Iranian nuclear program. It’s essential for the regime, its activities, and its nuclear program. If such a blow was given to Fordow, it definitely harms [Iran] drastically. They were reaching for 20 percent uranium enrichment, and were increasing output,” he added.

Situated near the holy Shi’ite city of Qom, the existence of the Fordow enrichment plant, dug deep into a mountain, was kept secret by Iran, until it was discovered by Western intelligence in 2009, and the question of how long it had been in operation remains unanswered.

Kahlili, a pseudonym used to protect him from the Iranian regime, published A Time To Betray in 2010, in which he described a journey which took him from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards to being a CIA agent in the 1980s. He now resides in California, and says he is in touch with a number of insiders in the Iranian intelligence and security communities, as well as inside the office of Iran’s supreme leader.

Asked why satellite imagery was not being released of rescue efforts at Fordow, Kahlili said only state intelligence agencies have access to live satellite feeds. “Why don’t they put it out? My only assumption is that no one wants to take credit because of what the consequences could be by the regime,” he said. “This is a very sensitive time. I’m sure that soon, very soon, more information will leak out. Chatter will get loud enough to provide further information.” Kahlili went on to say that the “first suspicion is Israel” within the Islamic Republic. “I have verified information that there was a meeting [called by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei. A decision was made to act in Lebanon. A request was made to [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah to vacate southern Lebanese villages. Islamic Republic Guards are on their way there. A decision has been made to prepare for missile launch from a certain area in Lebanon against Israel,” he said.

Khalili said one of the sources who initially leaked information of the blast came from within the security forces guarding Fordow, adding that precise information of the attack was not being released in order to protect the source. “The source has been collaborating for a ling time,” he said. A second source came from the Iranian Intelligence Ministry, he said, adding that it was very difficult to safely get information out of Iran.

Iranian authorities have not yet made any progress in their attempt to enter Fordow, Kahlili asserted, adding, “I fear there is radiation involved.” Iran’s defense ministry dispatched drilling vehicles, “the same they used to carve tunnels an create underground facilities, to see if they can make any headway in opening emergency exists, because they collapsed. Among those stuck in the facility are dozens of foreign nationals. These are contracted scientists,” he said.

Kahlili said a second mysterious blast occurred in Tehran last week, at an IRGC base called “21 Hamza.” “There are injuries, and there have been arrests of IRGC members who are being questioned. The Intelligence Ministry suspects sabotage,” he added.

January 28, 2013 | 5 Comments »

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  1. Well, for one thing, it seems that these reports of impending retaliation from Lebanon are borne out by the recent report of an Israeli airstrike against a convoy moving from Syria to Lebanon.

    I have a friend in Israel who told me some time ago that the Israeli air force had pictures of Saddam’s WMD goodies that were spirited into Syria on the even of Gulf War 2. I had always thought that was what Saddam did; there is no question but that he had WMDs.

    The doo-doo really does seem to be getting ready to hit the air conditioning apparatus.

    I have no doubt that Israel was responsible for the hit on Fordo. Three reasons:

    1) However unsophisticated Iran may be in other ways, their intel/counter-intel capabilities, I understand, are pretty good, so it probably didn’t take them too long to figure out who was responsible.

    2) No way the Gulf Sunni Arabs could mount such a sophisticated operation. I mean, you’ve got to be kidding me…

    3) No way this American president would do something that bold against the native land of his very favorite advisor and confidante, Valerie Jarrett. And, he needs an imminently nuclear Iran with which to blackmail Israel in terms of conceding to the PA. This event definitely doesn’t square with his game plan of a second term full court press against Israel, with the help of Hagel, Kerry, Brennan, etc. (you know, that whole team of resolute defenders against Radical Islam and their Supporting Regimes).

    SO, I think a big round of congratulations are in order for the valiant men and women of Mossad. Super job. Makes me proud to be a Jew!

    Stout Hearts, everybody.

  2. @ Dean:

    “Why has Israel allowed the build-up of missiles to such an extent in Lebanon’s Bakaa valley? It seems to this uneducated bystander that Israel would want to do all in its power to eradicate missiles that some say number into the tens of thousands in the hands of Hezbollah.”

    It’s quite possible that Saddam’s WMD’s or their then-unassembled components have been stored all this time in the Bekaa Valley, which is Jihad Central for Hezbollah.

  3. I have verified information that there was a meeting [called by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei. A decision was made to act in Lebanon. A request was made to [Hezbollah chief Hassan] Nasrallah to vacate southern Lebanese villages. Islamic Republic Guards are on their way there. A decision has been made to prepare for missile launch from a certain area in Lebanon against Israel,” he said.

    I’ll believe all of this when I see it.It sounds like one of those goofy Debka reports, you know, the ones that never come true. I’d be so happy of they vacated the villages, that way, the IDF could go in and destroy Hezbollah without having to worry about civilians in the way and all the allegations and bad publicity about civilian casualties. It would be a dream come true for Israeli commanders.

  4. Why has Israel allowed the build-up of missiles to such an extent in Lebanon’s Bakaa valley? It seems to this uneducated bystander that Israel would want to do all in its power to eradicate missiles that some say number into the tens of thousands in the hands of Hezbollah. Also, if the report is true, this should make countries sending their best engineers and workers to Iran to help them build nuclear bombs think twice before issuing visas. I think that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states are behind this act (just a hint to Ahmadinejad on where to send his letters of complaint!)

  5. OBAMA & CLINTON INTERVIEW – Israel Matzav posts links to the CBS interview where they discuss their Middle East policy.

    Israel Matzav’s Carl writes: “Mark Langfan argues that Obama’s chickens are now coming home to roost. Mark Langfan argues that President Obama made a grand bargain with Iran in 2009 in which the US recognized Iran’s ‘spheres of influence’ (and ‘right’ to nuclear weapons) much as Roosevelt did the same for Stalin’s Russia in the 1940’s. While Obama may be willing to lie down in front of Iran’s Shiite rulers, Iraqi Sunnis and Gulf Arabs (who are also Sunnis) are not. Obama has earned the United States the enmity of Iraqi Sunnis for the next century (at least) because he double crossed them by installing Nuri al-Maliki in power.” –
    http://israelmatzav.blogspot.ca/2013/01/obamas-grand-bargain-with-iran-coming.html#links

    The CBS interview: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57565734/obama-and-clinton-the-60-minutes-interview/