An Iranian-German university professor in Norway was charged with violating sanctions
Norwegian prosecutors have charged a German-Iranian university professor in Norway with violating sanctions against the Islamic Republic. The case concerns access to information that could be used in Iran's nuclear programs.
Norwegian prosecutor Fredrik Ranke accused an Iranian-German professor at the Technical University of Trondheim in Norway of violating sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
On Wednesday, September 29, the German news agency reported, citing Norwegian media, that the accused university professor hosted four Iranian researchers between February 2018 and June 2019, who were provided with the opportunity to use the technical university's laboratory.
According to the report, the prosecutor told the NRK radio station that the visiting researchers had access to information that could be beneficial to the Islamic Republic's nuclear programs.
The prosecutor did not reveal the name of the university professor, but Norwegian news sources say his lawyer, Brynjolf Rense, has denied the prosecution's allegations and stressed that his client has committed no wrongdoing.
Accused ready to return to Norway
The defendant's lawyer says his client has left Norway but is ready to return to the country to appear in court. The Iranian-German university professor is currently living in a Gulf country, broadcaster NRK reported.
The Norwegian National Security Agency announced on Wednesday that an investigation had been conducted into two of these researchers who were present at the laboratory at the Trondheim University of Technology, and the results had been submitted to the prosecution.
The agency says it is suspected that the Iranian-German professor provided visiting researchers with unauthorized access to data on the university's computer system.
According to the prosecutor, if the university professor's accusations of violating sanctions and violating Norwegian law are proven, he will be sentenced to 10 years in prison.
The Islamic Republic has not yet responded to the Norwegian media report on this issue, and no further details have been released.
Source: DW
