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Image

Anti-aircraft guns guarding the Natanz Nuclear Facility, Iran. 22 June 2006 -
Credit: Hamed Saber / Wikimedia Commons - License: CC-BY

Politics
Iran
nuclear program
sabotage
United States
Israel
AIVD
MIVD
Natanz
Natanz Nuclear Facility
Erik van Sabben
Stuxnet
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Monday, 8 January 2024 - 08:22
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DUTCH MAN SABOTAGED IRANIAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM WITHOUT DUTCH GOVERNMENT'S
KNOWLEDGE: REPORT



In 2008, a Dutchman played a crucial role in the United States and Israeli-led
operation to sabotage Iran’s nuclear program. The then 36-year-old Erik van
Sabben infiltrated an Iranian nuclear complex and released the infamous Stuxnet
virus, paralyzing the country’s nuclear program. The AIVD recruited the man, but
Dutch politicians knew nothing about the operation, the Volkskrant reports after
investigating the sabotage for two years.

A few years ago, the Volkskrant revealed that the Dutch intelligence services
AIVD and MIVD had recruited the infiltrator in this sabotage operation. But at
the time, it was believed to have been an Iranian engineer. In the meantime, the
newspaper continued to investigate the matter, speaking to dozens of people
involved, including 19 employees of the AIVD and MIVD.

They told the newspaper that Dutchman Van Sabben infiltrated the underground
nuclear complex in the city of Natanz and installed equipment infected with the
highly sophisticated Stuxnet virus. According to the newspaper, the software
cost over a billion dollars to develop. It caused a large number of nuclear
centrifuges to break down, delaying the nuclear program by several years,
according to estimates.

No one in the Netherlands knew that this new type of cyber weapon was being used
in the operation, the Volkskrant wrote. According to the investigative
journalists, the intelligence services knew they were participating in the
sabotage of the Iranian nuclear program but not that their agent was bringing in
Stuxnet. “The Americans used us,” one intelligence source told the Volkskrant.



Strikingly, the Balkenede IV Cabinet apparently was not informed about the
operation at all. According to the newspaper, the Stiekem committee, which
translates to “secret committee," where the largest political parties are
informed about the intelligence services’ actions, also knew nothing about the
Netherlands participating in this operation.

Van Sabben immediately left Iran after successfully sabotaging the country’s
nuclear program, the researchers concluded. He died two weeks later in a
motorcycle accident near his home in Dubai. Nothing points to foul play, the
Volkskrant said after speaking with people at the crash scene. Though, an
anonymous MIVD employee told the newspaper that Van Sabben “paid a high price.”

Van Sabben was recruited by the AIVD in 2005, according to the newspaper. His
technical background, many contacts in the region, and links with Iran - he
already did business in Iran and was married to an Iranian woman with family in
the country - made him ideal for the mission.



After his death, an article in the United Arab Emirates newspaper The National
praised Van Sabben as an engineer who made an important contribution to the Gulf
State. The article noted that he traveled a lot for his work, mentioning Iran
along with Sudan, Yemen, and East Africa. According to the Volkskrant, Van
Sabben released Stuxnet into the Natanz nuclear complex during one of those
trips to Iran. The virus was likely in a water pump that Van Sabben had
installed there.

It is unclear whether the Dutchman knew about his role in the sabotage
operation, the Volkskrant wrote.

Several parliamentarians demanded clarification about the operation, including
why the government and parliament did not know about it. The intelligence
services told the newspaper they cannot comment substantively on the
publication. An anonymous executive at the AIVD said that the government may
have deliberately not been informed of the operation due to the potential
political consequences. It was customary to “sweep the Prime Minister’s doorstep
clean,” they said.











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