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03-27-2006, 03:21 PM
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Germany 'breaks Iran supply ring'
German customs agents have raided the offices of 41 companies suspected of links to Iran's nuclear programme.
Prosecutors said specialised equipment worth several million euros that could have been used for a nuclear programme had been shipped to Iran via Russia.
The suspicious exports were traced to a Berlin firm no longer in business.
Iran could face United Nations action over its nuclear programme, which it insists is peaceful and not aimed at producing nuclear weapons.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that German authorities were investigating the activities of seven Russians thought to be involved in the exports.
Supplying demand
Benedikt Welfens, a spokesman for the German prosecutors' office, told the ARD TV network that the Berlin-based company acted as a cover for a network involved in exports to Iran.
"Its main business is the supply of Iran's nuclear programme," Mr Welfens said.
"We found out that the employees of this company purposefully contacted companies in Germany in order to purchase very specific components for Iran."
He suggested that the goods were worth up to three million euros ($3.6m; £2m).
"It's not that much, but it may rise. We have to look at the information and data that we've found," he said. German laws ban the sale of arms to Iran and a number of other countries.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/4850770.stm
Published: 2006/03/27 17:01:10 GMT
© BBC MMVI
Germany 'breaks Iran supply ring'
German customs agents have raided the offices of 41 companies suspected of links to Iran's nuclear programme.
Prosecutors said specialised equipment worth several million euros that could have been used for a nuclear programme had been shipped to Iran via Russia.
The suspicious exports were traced to a Berlin firm no longer in business.
Iran could face United Nations action over its nuclear programme, which it insists is peaceful and not aimed at producing nuclear weapons.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that German authorities were investigating the activities of seven Russians thought to be involved in the exports.
Supplying demand
Benedikt Welfens, a spokesman for the German prosecutors' office, told the ARD TV network that the Berlin-based company acted as a cover for a network involved in exports to Iran.
"Its main business is the supply of Iran's nuclear programme," Mr Welfens said.
"We found out that the employees of this company purposefully contacted companies in Germany in order to purchase very specific components for Iran."
He suggested that the goods were worth up to three million euros ($3.6m; £2m).
"It's not that much, but it may rise. We have to look at the information and data that we've found," he said. German laws ban the sale of arms to Iran and a number of other countries.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/4850770.stm
Published: 2006/03/27 17:01:10 GMT
© BBC MMVI