Arms violation
August 19, 2010
Federal prosecutors in Germany on Thursday opened a case against two men thought to have shipped equipment to Iran that could be used for making long-range missiles carrying nuclear warheads. This would be in violation of the Iran arms embargo.
The two men, Mohsen A., a 52-year-old Iranian, and Heinz Ulrich K. a 65 year-old German, are accused of buying and shipping a vacuum sinter furnace to Iran, which was purchased in Germany. The furnace is used to make warheads and missile guidance systems heat-resistant.
The purchase and shipment of the furnace was done without the knowledge of German authorities, and German law forbids unlicensed exports of goods that could be used for military purposes in conflict zones.
Mohsen A. had already previously been charged in connection with the shipment of the furnace, but prosecutors say their case against him has been expanded.
The two men are thought to have purchased the furnace in July 2007 for 850,000 euros ($1.1 million).
Author: Matt Zuvela (afp/dpa/AP)
Editor: Rob Turner