Pakistani scientist 'sold Iran nuclear parts'

Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan sold centrifuge parts to Iran for its nuclear programme in the mid-1990s, it was claimed today.

Buhary Syed Abu Tahir, the alleged middle-man in an international nuclear trafficking network run by Khan, told police in Kuala Lumpur that the scientist asked him to send two containers of used centrifuge parts from Pakistan to Iran in 1994 or 1995.

Tahir has been questioned by local authorities in connection with his activities on Khan’s behalf in Malaysia. Police released a report of the investigation today.

Tahir told Malaysian authorities he organised the shipment of two containers of centrifuge parts from Dubai to Iran aboard an Iranian merchant ship, the report says.

“Payment for the two containers of centrifuge units,” was made by an unnamed Iranian, the report said.

“The cash was brought in two briefcases and kept in an apartment that was used as a guesthouse by the Pakistani nuclear arms expert each time he visited Dubai,” says the report, which identifies the arms expert as Khan.