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Russia accuses british arming iran { March 28 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,924333,00.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,924333,00.html
Russia adds to Iran nuclear row
Nick Paton Walsh, Moscow
Friday March 28, 2003
The Guardian
A British company has denied Russian suggestions that it provided uranium enrichment equipment to Iran.
Alexander Rumyantsev, Russia's atomic energy minister, said earlier in the week he was concerned at press reports that the design of centrifuges recently found by UN inspectors in Iran was similar to those made by Urenco, a company based in Britain. Urenco has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the allegations. The centrifuge technology can be used to enrich uranium for a nuclear bomb.
A spokesman for Mr Rumyantsev yesterday clarified the minister's remarks to the Guardian. "Referring to media reports, the minister said that the equipment the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] found in Iran looks similar to that produced by Urenco," he said. "According to specialists, such equipment could not be produced by Iran itself and it is similar to that which Urenco has produced."
An Iranian foreign ministry spokesman denied the involvement of foreign companies. He said: "The nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic are indigenous and Iran uses its own know-how."
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