Swiss Open Probe to Determine if Iran Arms Deal Broke Law
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BERN, Switzerland — The federal prosecutor’s office opened an inquiry today to determine if U.S. arms shipments to Iran were sent through Switzerland in violation of Swiss law, government spokesman Achille Casanova said.
He told reporters unauthorized use of Switzerland as a conduit for such shipments would contravene laws on arms trading.
The Swiss newspaper Sonntagsblick quoted unidentified arms dealers as saying U.S. deliveries shipped to Iran through Switzerland included at least three Cobra helicopter gunships, howitzers and spare parts for MX-18 tanks.
Casanova also said Swiss authorities have received a formal U.S. request for judicial help in the American investigation of the matter.
He said the request concerned two Swiss bank accounts that may have been used in connection with the secret arms deal.
Swiss banking secrecy laws can be waived in criminal inquiries only if purported offenses are punishable under the penal codes of both countries.
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