German police raid companies over Iran sale

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Tuesday, 28 March: 12.15 CET) – German police have raided 41 sites across the country in connection with an investigation into the illegal export of equipment to Iran for its nuclear program, German prosecutors told reporters.

Seven people, most of them of with Russian backgrounds, are under investigation in the case, according to prosecutors. They said the illegal exports appeared to have reached Iran via Russia.

One of the companies searched in raids last week was believed to be a front for the illegal export of hydraulic pumps and transformer parts, which could be used in nuclear facilities.

German prosecutors said five or six firms were suspected of having supplied the front company with material.

“We found out that the employees of this company purposefully contacted companies in Germany in order to purchase very specific components for Iran,” Benedikt Welfens, spokesman for the German prosecutor’s office, told ARD TV network.

Welfens reportedly said the goods were worth up to €3 million (US$3.6 million).

He also said German prosecutors planned to contact the Russian authorities in the next stage of the investigation.

The transactions dated from 2004 and 2005 and orders were placed by a front company based in Berlin, reports said.

German law restricts the sale to Iran of such dual use equipment that can be used in both military and civilian nuclear programs.