STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- United States pressure forced two Swedish companies to drop out of Iran's nuclear effort, documents exposed by WikiLeaks reveal.
Colenco, based in Switzerland but owned by the Swedish firm AF, helped the Iranians build a light water reactor in Darkhovin, the Stockholm News reported Monday, citing another Swedish newspaper, Svenska Dagbladet. The reactor is officially civilian but the United States charges it can be used to advance a weapons program. Colenco also has sold Iran reactor equipment.
Mahaco, which has offices in Sweden and Spain, has acted as a trading intermediary for Iran, Svenska Dagbladet said. Sweden's Institute for Strategic Products has repeatedly denied it export permits to Iran under rules to stop "double-use" materials that could go to weapons.
WikiLeaks documents show the United States worked for years to stop the companies' dealings with Iran, saying they violate U.N. sanctions.
