Norway Says Raw Uranium Shipped To Iran Under Nuclear Deal

Norway says it helped finance and verify a shipment of 60 tons of raw uranium to Iran as part of Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers.

The Foreign Ministry said on December 29 that experts from the Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority "verified and controlled the transportation" of the uranium yellowcake from Kazakhstan to Iran on December 27.

Iran is receiving raw uranium in exchange for sending most of its low-enriched uranium to Russia under the July 14 nuclear accord.

The deal aims to reduce Iran's ability to make nuclear weapons — something Tehran says it has no interest in doing.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Boerge Brende said Norway's $6 million of financing for the yellowcake shipment helps "ensure Iran's excess enriched uranium is replaced by natural uranium, so that the commitments in the agreement can be met" and "Iran does not...develop nuclear weapons."

Based on reporting by AP and dpa