Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd released a statement that his country intercepted several shipments intended for Iran’s nuclear program, HaMevaser reports.

Australian Defense Minister John Faulkner took “appropriate actions” when learning of several suspicious containers. Australian media reports indicate four “suspicious shipments” intended for Iran were intercepted. One of the shipments contained cylindrical tubing that was suitable for cooling a nuclear reactor.

Three weeks ago, officials in Thailand apprehended a cargo plane carrying 35 tons of weapons, including hand grenades, shoulder held missiles and parts for missile assembly, as per a classified report sent by the Thai government to the United Nations Security Council. The shipment was of N. Korean origin and was heading for Tehran.

The plane took off from N. Korea and was to have landed in Tehran, but was compelled to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. The pilot told authorities he was heading to Sri Lanka and was not aware of the plane’s final destination, but officials in Sri Lanka are unaware of any such cargo shipment that was incoming from North Korea.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)