Germany charges 2 for exporting equipment for use in Iran missile program

Germany charges 2 over Iran equipment deal

BERLIN — Two men have been charged in Germany with illegally exporting equipment to Iran that was intended for use in the country’s missile program, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The charges of violating export laws were filed against a 52-year-old Iranian identified only as Mohsen A. and a 49-year-old Iranian-German dual national identified as Dr. Behzad S., federal prosecutors said.

The men are suspected of exporting a vacuum sintering furnace worth euro850,000 ($1.14 million) to Iran in July 2007, thus violating an international embargo on exports of items that could be used for military purposes, prosecutors said.

They said the furnace can be used to cover missile components with heat-resistant material.

Prosecutors alleged that both suspects were aware it was destined for Iran’s missile program.

Mohsen A. has headed an Iranian machine-building company since the mid-1990s, prosecutors said, without naming the firm. In spring 2004 or earlier, they said, a senior official with the Iranian missile program tasked him with obtaining a vacuum sintering furnace; and the suspect brought in Behzad S., an engineer, to carry out the order.

In March 2008, according to prosecutors, the German manufacturer of the equipment started work on installing it in Tehran — but quickly broke it off after discovering that Mohsen A.’s firm was suspected of working for the missile program. That meant the device couldn’t be used.

Mohsen A. was arrested in Germany last October and remains in custody. Behzad S. is free.

The charges were filed at a state court in Duesseldorf on March 24. There was no immediate word on a trial date.