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| Zimbabwe denies report of uranium contract with Iran |
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TEHRAN – Zimbabwean Deputy Mining Minister Gift Chimanikire has denied the news report claiming that Zimbabwe has signed an agreement allowing uranium exports to Iran.
“We have no capacity to handle uranium as a country, and besides we don’t even know the quantity of uranium” deposits viable for mining, Chimanikire, a member of the country’s opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said in a phone interview with Bloomberg on Saturday. “We signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran, which covers various agreements in mineral trading such as diamonds, gold and other minerals.”
London-based Times newspaper reported on Saturday, citing an interview with Chimanikire, that Zimbabwe had signed an MoU to supply Iran with uranium. Zimbabwe has uranium deposits in the Zambezi Valley although the quality, quantity and economic viability of the reserves have never been formally established.
Western nations suspect Iran wants to use its nuclear program to produce weapons, and have imposed a series of sanctions to pressure it to curb its nuclear program. Iran says its program is meant for energy production and medical research.
Chimanikire said that the MoU with Iran was signed some time ago and not this year.
“Trade in uranium is governed under the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Chimanikire said. “We as country are yet to ratify that and have to go through the cabinet committee on legislation.”
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