US accuses North academic of Iran weapons plot
Dec 12 2006 By The Journal
A county Durham academic was yesterday accused of taking part in a $3m (£1.5m) international conspiracy to smuggle military equipment to Iran.
Nosratollah Tajik, 53, an honorary fellow at Durham University and a former Iranian ambassador to Jordan, was alleged to be the UK link in an illegal arms network spanning the US, Holland and Turkey.
The American government has requested that Mr Tajik is extradited to face trial for his alleged role in an attempt to supply hi-tech night vision weapons sights to the country, which is under an arms export embargo.
A court was told two agents secretly filmed Mr Tajik allegedly discussing a deal which would have seen the military hardware being sent from the US to Iran via the UK and Turkey.
However, Mr Tajik's legal team claims this was an unprecedented case of entrapment by American government officers. His barrister, Alun Jones QC, said: "It ought to be properly investigated to see why these foreign nationals are committing crimes on British territory and then asking a family man and foreign ambassador to be sent to the US by tricking him."
The extradition hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court was told that investigators at the US Department of Homeland Security began probing an alleged arms export ring in October. Posing as potential vendors, they struck up a relationship with a contact whose email address originated in the Iranian capital, Tehran.
Several months later, as the alleged deal progressed, he referred them to Mr Tajik, who was described as a UK "partner", said David Perry QC, for the Government.
In August, the agents requested a meeting with Mr Tajik in offices in London to discuss the deal.
Mr Perry said Mr Tajik told the men he was still waiting for the money to fund the deal during their meeting in London.
After the meeting, the Americans tipped off Scotland Yard, who sent officers to Mr Tajik's home in the village of Coxhoe, on the outskirts of Durham City, to arrest him.
District Judge Caroline Tubbs adjourned the hearing until December 28.
Mr Tajik declined to comment after the hearing.
