Two Charged In U.S. With Trying To Export Nuclear Material To Iran

The U.S. Justice Department says two men, one from Iran and the other from China, have been charged with trying to export material to Iran that could be used for uranium enrichment.

Iranian citizen Parviz Khaki was arrested in May in the Philippines, while the other, Zongcheng Yi of China, remains at large, the department said.

The two men succeeded in illegally exporting lathes and nickel-alloy wire from the United States to China and then to Iran in 2009, the department said.

The men allegedly purchased the materials from U.S. companies without divulging the ultimate destination, in violation of export controls.

Iran is facing Western sanctions over its sensitive nuclear activities that many fear could lead to the production of nuclear weapons.

Iranian officials maintain Tehran's nuclear activities are peaceful.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters