U.S. to blame for all Israeli "terror" acts against Iran's nuclear sites, experts: Iranian official

TEHRAN, May 6 (Xinhua) -- A top Iranian security official said the United States is to blame for Israel's "terrorist" acts against Iran's nuclear facilities and experts.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani made the remark in a post on his Twitter page Friday night, reacting to recent comments by U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, in which he said Washington will recognize Israel's right for "freedom of action if Iran tries to obtain nuclear weapons."

Addressing a conference at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on Thursday, Sullivan said, "We have made clear to Iran that it can never be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon. As President Biden has repeatedly reaffirmed, he will take the actions that are necessary to stand by this statement, including recognizing Israel's freedom of action."

Sullivan added the U.S. will keep "engaging Iran diplomatically regarding its nuclear program," describing as a "tragic mistake" the decision to quit the 2015 nuclear deal "with nothing at all to replace it."

Shamkhani said this means the U.S. "has been and will be responsible" for all "terrorist acts" by Israel against Iran's nuclear facilities and personnel and should accept possible consequences.

Iran accuses Israel of targeting the country's nuclear sites and facilities and assassinating seven Iranian nuclear scientists, including high-ranking nuclear physicist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who died from severe injuries on Nov. 27, 2020, following an armed attack on his car in the northeast of Iran's capital Tehran.

Iran reiterated its nuclear program is entirely "peaceful" and that producing nuclear weapons "has no place in its defense doctrine."

Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions on the country.

The U.S., however, pulled out of the deal in May 2018 and reimposed its unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the deal.

The talks on the JCPOA's revival began in April 2021 in Vienna. No breakthrough has been achieved after the latest round of talks in August 2022.