Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has been linked to Iran’s efforts to smuggle
material for its nuclear program.

Germany has determined that Teheran established more than a dozen fronts
in Turkey to transport dual-use components for Iran’s nuclear program.

Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office has tracked the flow of dual-use
material acquired in Europe and India and shipped to Iran via Turkey.

“Germany has briefed Turkish authorities on the Iranian fronts and their
owners,” a Turkish source said.

On March 12, Turkey’s Bugun daily reported that Germany has identified
the transport of 941 dual-use components by Iranian front companies based in Istanbul. Bugun said the components were all believed to have applications for Teheran’s nuclear program.

German police were said to have determined that the dual-use components were ordered by Iran’s Mitech. Mitech, under sanctions by the European Union and United States, ordered the components delivered through Turkey via a company agent identified as Hussein Tanideh.

Tanideh, an Iranian, was arrested in Istanbul in January. Another
alleged Iranian agent, Mesut Atasoy, was also arrested in Turkey while
authorities were searching for three Iranians. Officials said the arrests
were facilitated by Interpol.

Turkey has acknowledged increasing trade with Iran. In January 2013, the
Turkish Union of Chambers of Commodity Exchanges reported 28 new
Iranian-funded foreign companies in Turkey, and overall more than 2,100 such firms.

  dual-use nuclear material, Germany tracks flow of nuke material to Iran through Turkey, Iran’s Mitech, Mesut Atasoy