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Iran-Russia Nuclear Cooperation: Sensitive Technologies Under Scrutiny

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Iranian scientists reportedly visited Russia in secret to acquire dual-use nuclear technologies with potential military applications

The Iran-Russia nuclear cooperation has come under renewed scrutiny after reports of a secret visit by Iranian scientists to Russia last year. According to the Financial Times, the mission aimed to obtain “dual-use” technologies, suitable for both civilian and military applications, and was part of a broader series of exchanges between Russian military research institutes and Iran’s Organisation for Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND), a body linked to the Iranian military.

Documents and travel records obtained by the newspaper show that between 7 and 11 November, Iranian specialists in laser technologies visited Saint Petersburg using diplomatic passports issued consecutively by the Iranian Foreign Ministry. During their visit, they met researchers from the Russian company Laser Systems, which is under US sanctions and involved in both civil and military technological development.

Jim Lamson, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Non-Proliferation and former CIA analyst, noted that the Iranians were seeking “laser technology and expertise capable of validating a nuclear weapon design without conducting an explosive test.” Records examined by the Financial Times indicate that the visitors were physicists and engineers from Iranian universities affiliated with the defence sector, including Shahid Beheshti, Azad, Kashan, and Malek Ashtar University, all under US and EU sanctions.

Laser Systems confirms on its website that it is authorised by the FSB to handle classified state materials and holds permits to develop armaments under supervision of the Russian Ministry of Defence. DamavandTec, the Iranian cover company, has previously attempted to acquire highly controlled radioactive isotopes, including tritium, which can enhance the yield of nuclear warheads.

The episode raises serious questions about the scope of Iran-Russia nuclear cooperation, especially amid global concerns over proliferation and Tehran’s access to dual-use technologies.

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