A "secret visit" by Iranian experts to Russia... What was its content?
Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special
((Arab Sea)) Translations: A Financial Times investigation, published on Tuesday, revealed that a delegation of nuclear scientists and Iranian officials visited Russian institutes and companies that produce dual-use technology, potentially for use in nuclear weapons research. The investigation is based on letters, travel documents, and records of Iranian and Russian companies, in addition to interviews with Western officials and experts in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. The newspaper said that a delegation of Iranian scientists and officials traveled to Russia on August 4, 2024, on a visit that lasted four days. The visitors claimed to work for the consulting firm "Damavand Tech," which is based in the Iranian capital, Tehran, but these claims were just a cover story for the visit, according to the Financial Times. The investigation indicated that the delegation has links to the Iranian Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, known as SPND. The newspaper pointed out that this visit to Russia came at a time when Western governments noticed a pattern of suspicious activities carried out by Iranian scientists, including attempts to obtain nuclear-related technology from abroad. Experts following Iranian nuclear activity said that Tehran's strategy has always been based on calculated ambiguity, so as to avoid a clear violation of nuclear non-proliferation rules, but at the same time exploit scientific research to enhance knowledge, which may be useful if Tehran decides to manufacture a nuclear bomb. The documents revealed by the investigation do not specify the type of technology or knowledge that the Iranian delegation was seeking to obtain from these Russian companies. However, nuclear non-proliferation experts said that the background of the delegation members, the type of companies they met with, and the way they traveled are suspicious. Pranay Vaddi, who served as Senior Director for Non-Proliferation Affairs at the US National Security Council until January 2025, said: "It is worrying that people like these are able to hold this type of meeting in Russia, given the nature of the current relationship between the two countries." He added: "Whether the Russians shared components or technology or not... SPND is an organization that will use this knowledge specifically for nuclear weapons purposes." Preparing for the trip In early 2024, Iranian nuclear scientist Ali Kalvand received a request from the Iranian Ministry of Defense to use his company to arrange a visit by a sensitive delegation to Moscow, according to correspondence reviewed by the Financial Times. The documents also revealed that Kalvand and four people received an invitation from Russian scientist Oleg Maslennikov to make an official visit to one of Maslennikov's companies in Moscow. The newspaper pointed out that this trip was planned very carefully. It reported that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued two new diplomatic passports with serial numbers to officials who would accompany him to Russia, noting that these passports are only granted to travelers abroad on official visits approved by the state. The members of the delegation were not ordinary academics, but according to Iranian company records, sanctions classifications, and Western officials, they were closely linked to the Iranian Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), according to the same source. Details of the visit According to the Financial Times, the visit lasted for four days, during which the Iranian delegation visited the "Techno Expert" center and the "Tory" research center. The delegation also visited companies affiliated with the Russian scientist Maslennikov, such as Techno Expert, in addition to the state-owned Rostok company, which has been subject to US sanctions since the 1990s. These institutes specialize in dual-use technology, which are components with civilian purposes but can be used in the development of nuclear weapons. The newspaper said that the Iranian Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research has been seeking to obtain this technology for a decade by circumventing Western export controls. Former intelligence officials told the Financial Times that the organization deliberately uses vague language and descriptions in projects to maintain the possibility of denial. Based on all these data, the British newspaper said that the Iranian delegation is seeking to obtain information related to diagnostic tools for nuclear weapons tests. The documents also revealed that the delegation sought to obtain radioactive materials for research purposes.
