Zimbabwe agreed to supply Iran with uranium - Spy Cables

South African intelligence agents noted Iran's particular interest in cultivating good relations with Zimbabwe was because of its need for a source of uranium ore to expand its nuclear programme.

In April 2010 and March 2011, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president, visited Zimbabwe to kick start the deal, offering Iran's oil in return, and officials in the cash-strapped nation agreed to break sanctions to supply the resource, saying that such economic blockades - which Zimbabwe itself faced - were "hypocritical".

The SSA report reads: "Iran continues with its search for alternative sources for uranium since its own stocks are of poor quality and almost depleted.

"Three countries are of importance: South Africa, who is not willing to supply Iran again; Algeria which has its own International Atomic Energy Agency-supervised nuclear programme and is a close supporter of the Iranian quest to develop an independent peaceful nuclear capacity and Zimbabwe.

"The latter is of particular importance since it agreed in 2011 during the visit by President Ahmadinejad to Zimbabwe to supply Tehran with the required resource. Note: There is currently no evidence if this agreement has been activated.