LONDON — The British government has opened an investigation into whether around a dozen UK universities helped the Iranian regime develop technology that could be used to upgrade its Shahed 136 "kamikaze drone" program, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed Wednesday.
An investigation by the Jewish Chronicle newspaper revealed on June 8 that at least 11 British universities including Cambridge University, Imperial College London and aerospace specialist college Cranfield University worked on Iran-related projects, with staff producing at least 16 studies with potential Iranian military applications.
British lawmakers were alarmed by the report and said the universities could have possibly breached sanctions on Iran. The United Kingdom bans the exportation of “duel use” and military technology to Iran and recently imposed sanctions against Iranian individuals and organizations found to be supplying Russia with the kamikaze drones being used in the war against Ukraine.
Sunak confirmed the launch of the probe at Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Government sources told the Jewish Chronicle that inquiry would involve the Ministry of Defense, Foreign Ministry and science and technology experts. Al-Monitor has contacted the British government for further comment.
