TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran has disrupted plots by foreign spies to recruit its nuclear experts and stopped sabotage attempts through faulty foreign equipment supplied for its facilities, the deputy head of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear department told The Associated Press.

The comments by Asghar Zarean, who is in charge of security for Iran’s nuclear program, came during a visit by an AP team to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization in Tehran organized by state officials. It also comes as Iran continues negotiations with world powers over its contested nuclear program and after authorities said they shot down a purported Israeli drone near one of its atomic facilities.