Defence won't reveal Iran shipment: Rudd

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the defence department won't say what cargo was banned
from being shipped to Iran under a law designed to prevent proliferation of weapons
of mass destruction (WMD).
Mr Rudd confirmed Defence Minister John Faulkner had exercised his powers under the
Weapons of Mass Destruction (Prevention of Proliferation) Act 1995.
But he refused to say what was in the three cargo consignments, destined for Iran,
that were banned from being delivered.
A spokesman for the defence department said it did not disclose specific details of
individual export cases due to commercial sensitivities.
"The minister issued prohibition notices under Section 14 of the WMD Act as he was
satisfied that if the particular goods were supplied or exported to a particular
country they would or might be used in a WMD program," he said.
"The minister makes such decisions under the WMD Act based on advice from the
Department of Defence and supported by other agencies."
Mr Rudd said Australia took a hardline approach to Iran and acted responsibly and
entirely appropriately to interdict a number of proposed shipments to Iran.
"They are developing a nuclear weapons program which is against the security
interests of Australia, against the security interests of our wider region, against
the security interests of the world and the international community," he told Sky
News.
Sales of sensitive materials are handled through the Defence Export Control Office
which administers the 333-page Defence and Strategic Goods list.
That includes military goods, non-military lethal goods such as commercial
explosives, and dual-use goods with military and civil applications.
In this category are chemicals and biological material, scientific equipment,
computers, sensors, lasers, navigation and information security equipment, plus
aircraft and parts.
Nuclear reactors and components and equipment for fabricating and reprocessing
nuclear fuel are specifically restricted.
The Australian newspaper suggested one consignment contained pumps which could be
used for reactor cooling, items specifically included in the strategic goods list.
Dr Rod Barton, a former United Nations weapons inspector who played a key role in
dismantling Iraq's chemical, biological and nuclear programs, said what was barred
from delivery to Iran could actually seem quite innocuous.
He said a range of items could fall under WMD provisions, not just those relating to
a nuclear program.
"There are so many things that can contribute to WMD," he said.
For example the former Iraq regime purchased huge quantities of casein, a common
milk protein used in baby milk formulations, for use as a growth media for its
biological weapons program.
Similarly, a nuclear enrichment program required a huge quantity of high grade
stainless steel plumbing which could also be required for a legitimate chemical
plant.
He said the restricted list contained catch-all provisions.
"If you believe that a certain country has a certain program and you believe it (a
particular export) might be contributing to a WMD program, that item can be
prohibited for sale to that country," he said.
"It could really be something that looks quite innocent. It need not be a
manufactured item. There are a whole range of raw materials that can go into a
nuclear program."