Eight arrested over selling arms to Iran

Spanish police yesterday said they had arrested eight people who allegedly planned to sell to Iran military transport helicopters that they obtained in Israel.

The United Nations has imposed an arms embargo on Iran.

Interior minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said five Spanish businessmen and three Iranians in Spain to finalise the deal had been arrested.

A ministry statement said nine American-made Bell 212 helicopters were seized in warehouses in Madrid and the northeastern port city of Barcelona.

Police put the value of the sale at €100 million (about 87m).

Earlier this week, United States senators proposed tightening sanctions on Iran, reflecting fears that firms overseas, particularly in China, are evading US penalties imposed last year for doing business with Iran.

The group said it wants to step up pressure on Tehran to stop its suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons.

The UN nuclear watchdog this week reported fresh evidence that Iran has tried to weaponise its nuclear programme.