 Four men have been arrested in Germany on suspicion of illegally supplying Iran with parts needed to build a nuclear reactor.
The suspects were held following searches of homes and business in Hamburg, Oldenburg and Weimar. They are accused of using front companies in Turkey and Azerbaijan to supply the parts in deals worth millions of euros. Germany has an embargo on nuclear-related trade with Iran.
German prosecutors said the arrested men - one German citizen and three Iranian-German dual nationals, were supplying special valves to be used in heavy water reactors. They are accused of breaking the arms embargo, as well as export restrictions on goods that could be used for military purposes. Prosecutors say the men, known as
| Dieter, Hans, Wolfgang and Klaus... |
Rudolf M, Kianzad Ka, Gholamali Ka, and Hamid Kh, knew what the parts would be used for. Germany privacy laws prevent their full names being released.
A fifth suspect has not been named.
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