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Taiwan probes alleged sales of nuclear parts to Iran: report
Taiwan probes alleged sales of nuclear parts to Iran: report
by Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) Dec 12, 2009
Taiwan is probing allegations that local companies might have sold specialised equipment to Iran that could be used to make nuclear weapons, a report said Saturday.
"We are looking into the matter," Hsu Chun-fang, a spokesperson for Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade was quoted by the Taipei Times as saying without elaborating.
Export of sensitive items or to sensitive regions are restricted by the bureau and require permits, officials said.
Hsu was responding to a Daily Telegraph report that Iran's defence officials have met Taiwan-based firms to purchase hundreds of pressure transducers that can be used to make weapons-grade uranium.
The report said Iran had tried unsuccessfully to buy the equipment for more than a year from European and American firms before turning to a Taiwanese company.
The company acquired and "secretly shipped" to Tehran 100 transducers originally produced in Europe, the report said, adding Iran is now trying to obtain more highly restricted equipment from Taiwan.
UN officials are investigating whether the European companies conducted proper checks of end-user certificates for the equipment, it said.
"This is a serious loophole, as it enables Iran to acquire sophisticated equipment that can help it develop its nuclear programme," a UN source was quoted by the paper as saying.
"Pressure needs to be applied to the companies involved to stop doing business with Tehran while it is still refusing to co-operate with the UN."
The international community has warned Iran to stop construction of its second uranium enrichment plant on suspicions that it is trying to develop a nuclear bomb.
Iran rejects the charges and says it wants to build up a civil energy programme.
Taiwan probes alleged sales of nuclear parts to Iran: report
by Staff Writers
Taipei (AFP) Dec 12, 2009
Taiwan is probing allegations that local companies might have sold specialised equipment to Iran that could be used to make nuclear weapons, a report said Saturday.
"We are looking into the matter," Hsu Chun-fang, a spokesperson for Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade was quoted by the Taipei Times as saying without elaborating.
Export of sensitive items or to sensitive regions are restricted by the bureau and require permits, officials said.
Hsu was responding to a Daily Telegraph report that Iran's defence officials have met Taiwan-based firms to purchase hundreds of pressure transducers that can be used to make weapons-grade uranium.
The report said Iran had tried unsuccessfully to buy the equipment for more than a year from European and American firms before turning to a Taiwanese company.
The company acquired and "secretly shipped" to Tehran 100 transducers originally produced in Europe, the report said, adding Iran is now trying to obtain more highly restricted equipment from Taiwan.
UN officials are investigating whether the European companies conducted proper checks of end-user certificates for the equipment, it said.
"This is a serious loophole, as it enables Iran to acquire sophisticated equipment that can help it develop its nuclear programme," a UN source was quoted by the paper as saying.
"Pressure needs to be applied to the companies involved to stop doing business with Tehran while it is still refusing to co-operate with the UN."
The international community has warned Iran to stop construction of its second uranium enrichment plant on suspicions that it is trying to develop a nuclear bomb.
Iran rejects the charges and says it wants to build up a civil energy programme.
