Swedish man on trial for breaking Iran sanctions

A man went on trial in the southern Swedish town of Lund on Wednesday for breaking international sanctions against Iran, after he tried to send equipment out of the country that could be used for uranium enrichment.
 
Shabab Ghasri, a 31-year-old Swede of Iranian origin, is charged with trying to sell advanced valves to Iran through his company.
 
"He doesn't consider himself guilty of having committed a crime," prosecutor Agnetha Hilding Qvarnstroem said.
 
Ghasri is alleged to have planned to circumvent international sanctions against Iran by first sending the equipment to Dubai.
 
The number of valves deemed to be in breach of international sanctions had been reduced from 11 in the original indictment to two, Qvarnstroem said.
 
Analysts have said that although it is technically possible to use the non-corrosive valves in the oil and gas industry, they are of unnecessarily high quality to be used for anything but uranium enrichment.
 
The shipment was discovered by Swedish customs officials in 2011.
 
Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful but many in the international community suspect its real aim is to develop nuclear weapons.
 
The country's economy is struggling to cope with punitive measures adopted by the US and the EU targeting its vital oil income and access to global financial systems.