Computer worm causes Iranian nuke shutdown

TEHRAN, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali-Akbar Salehi, rejected rumors Iran has halted its uranium enrichment activities.

In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency Tuesday, Salehi said the reports a computer worm had caused the shutdown of the Natanz nuclear plant were rumors and unfounded, and the result of Western media reports.

"Tell these media and press to congratulate themselves," Salehi said.

His comments came amid Western diplomatic claims a possible computer worm had temporarily halted uranium enrichment at the Natanz nuclear plant.

Haaretz reported while diplomats in Vienna claimed they had no specific details explaining what caused the plant to shut down, it appeared a computer worm called Stuxnet was the cause.

Haaretz said experts identified the worm last week, describing it as "calibrated to destroy centrifuges by causing them to spin out of control." The situation means centrifuges are operating at minimal capacity and hundreds of machines have been removed, the Israeli newspaper said.

An International Atomic Energy Agency report issued in September said 3,700 of the plant's 8,800 centrifuges were operating, Haaretz said.