Spanish company denies part in Iran nuclear smuggling plan
By REUTERS
MADRID - Basque company ONA Electroerosion denied on Tuesday charges made by the Spanish tax authorities that it had smuggled machinery to Iran to use in the country's nuclear program.The company said it has absolutely nothing to do with Iran's nuclear program and that all its exports to any country of equipment such as fan-manufacturing machines met with international rules.On Monday, Spain's tax agency said the company had managed to send over seven machines designed to make parts for turbines used in energy plants, in a scheme that violated United Nations security council sanctions against Iran.However, the company, based in Durango in the northern Basque Country in Spain denied any made-to-measure machines were sold to Iran.It said it had sold machinery to an Iranian company in 2009 after permission was granted for the sale, and that another permit was denied in the same year and so the sale did not go ahead.
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