Explosives were used to damage the electricity power lines to Iran's Fordow underground enrichment plant last month to sabotage Tehran's atomic advances, Iran's nuclear chief Fereidoun Abbasi Davani Monday said on Monday.

It was the first time Iran mentioned the incident, which Abbasi-Davani said took place on Aug. 17.

He added "the same act" had been carried out on power lines to Iran's main enrichment plant near the central town of Natanz.

Abbasi-Davani made clear his view that the explosives failed to slow Iran's nuclear program, which he said has made great progress in uranium enrichment.

The West suspects Iran of attempting to produce a nuclear warhead under cover of its nuclear program, while Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.