US keeps ‘dual use' manufacturers in Turkey under close surveillance.

US keeps ‘dual use' manufacturers in Turkey under close surveillance.The US has been closely monitoring 54 Turkish companies that produce materials which could potentially be used in Iran's nuclear program and the Turkish government has banned these companies from trading with Iran upon a request from the US administration, a reliable source who insisted on remaining anonymous has told Today's Zaman. US diplomatic cables published earlier by WikiLeaks made it clear that the operations of Turkish companies Durmazlar, Baykal and Ermaksan were being closely followed by the US. The three companies were listed among companies “whose loss or attack by terrorists” could have a “critical impact” on US security.Responding to questions by Today's Zaman on the issue, Trade and Industry Minister Nihat Ergün didn't want to go into details, but said: “We are not exporting products that are needed for Iran's nuclear program. Turkey has fulfilled the requirements of UN sanctions imposed on Iran so far. There is a list that lists which products are banned from being exported to Iran. Many of these products are those which can be used as part of Iran's nuclear program. Dual use technological equipment and aluminum are included in this list. The Turkish Foreign Trade Undersecretariat also has this list.”Noting that Turkey’s trade with Iran stood at around $1 billion in 2002, Tüzmen said this figure rose to $10 billion in 2010, complaining that the sanctions have cost Turkish companies nearly $1 billion.Durmazlar Machinery manufactures products for airlines and electronic industries. This company was a contractor for the Chalk River Laboratories in Canada. Chalk River is the world’s number one producer of isotopes. Another important point about Durmazlar is that it does business in Iran’s Strait of Hormuz.Hmmmm....Sanctions that "Bite" up from $ 2 Billion to $ 10 Billion?Read the full story here.