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Nuclear use goods bound for Iran from Italy, intercepted in Turkey
From Geostrategy-direct, subscription. Authorities in Turkey have uncovered Italian-made aluminum that is linked to Irans nuclear program. Turkish security services in December intercepted two large trucks carrying nearly four tons of an aluminum alloy produced in northern Italy. The goods were destined for Teheran. Not alloys for your run-of-the-mill soda pop cans. The specialty metal was believed intended for use in Iranian missiles or uranium enrichment, specifically in manufacturing a large number of centrifuges used in uranium processing. The intercepted shipment resulted from coordination between the Turkish MIT (Milli Istihbarat Teskilati), Italys SISMI (Intelligence and Military Security Service) and the CIA. Nice to see the agencies cooperating. The trucks were stopped at a narrow border pass at Gurbulak/Bazargan between Iran and Turkey. Good place to stop them, no way out. According to Turkish and Italian press reports, three aluminum containers, each weighing 3,233 kilograms, were found on the two trucks. They were being sent to Shadi Oil Industries in Iran, believed to be a cover for the nuclear program. The oil company was to transfer the goods to Iran and the Step Standard Technical Components Industry and Trading Corp. that is owned by two Iranians in Istanbul named Mohammad Javad Jafari and Mahin Falsafi. The manufacturer was the Milan company called Fond. Officials of the Turkish Atomic Energy Agency (TAEK) investigated the shipment and identified the goods as being dual-use items that could assist Iran's nuclear program. The aluminum containers could be utilized in enriching uranium needed for the production of nuclear weapons," the TAEK report stated.
Posted by: Al-Aska Paul 2006-02-24 |
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