29 July 2010 Last updated at 23:15 ET

Canadian jailed in Iran 'nuclear export' case

A Canadian court has sentenced a Toronto resident to over four years in prison for violating a United Nations resolution by attempting to export nuclear-related goods to Iran.

The items, called pressure transducers, are subject to a UN embargo on nuclear-related exports.

Mahmoud Yadegari was arrested after a two-month investigation in 2009.

Yadegari is the first person convicted of violating UN anti-nuclear proliferation resolutions against Iran.

Yadegari attempted to export controlled material to the country via Dubai in March 2009, Canada's public prosecution service said in a statement.

The 37-year-old, who was born in Iran but is now a Canadian citizen, was sentenced to four years and three months in jail. Prosecutors had hoped for a six-and-a-half-year term.

The government in Tehran has consistently denied claims by Western countries that it is seeking nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear energy. It insists its intentions are peaceful.