Zimbabwe denies uranium deal with Iran
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe’s state radio says the country’s ministry of mines controlled by long-time ruler President Robert Mugabe has not struck a deal to sell uranium to Iran for its nuclear programme.
The radio said Sunday that mining ministry dismissed reports in the British media that the two countries have signed an agreement on uranium exports as “a malicious and blatant lie”.
The mining ministry statement said Zimbabwe’s uranium deposits have not been exploited and “we have never issued any licence to any Iranian company”.
Police said they are searching for two British journalists of The Times of London, one visiting for the July 31 elections, over the uranium report.
It is a criminal offenCe with a penalty of imprisonment or a fine for “publishing falsehoods” under Zimbabwe’s sweeping media laws.