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'Iran arms runners' held in Italy | 'Iran arms runners' held in Italy |
(20 minutes later) | |
Nine people have been arrested by Italian border police on suspicion of trafficking arms to Iran. | Nine people have been arrested by Italian border police on suspicion of trafficking arms to Iran. |
Both Italians and Iranians had been arrested, including "some who are believed to belong to the Iranian secret services", police said. | Both Italians and Iranians had been arrested, including "some who are believed to belong to the Iranian secret services", police said. |
The nine were not identified, but police said they were accused of illegally exporting arms and armament systems. | The nine were not identified, but police said they were accused of illegally exporting arms and armament systems. |
Arms exports to Iran are strictly controlled under a UN embargo. | Arms exports to Iran are strictly controlled under a UN embargo. |
More details of the operation were expected to be released at a news conference later. | |
Italy is Iran's biggest trading partner in the European Union. | |
But it has been among the countries leading calls for tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. | |
The West accuses Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its only aim is to generate nuclear energy. |