The British Observer reported Sunday that officials have arrested several men in connection with a plot to sell weapons-grade uranium to Iran and Sudan. The men were known to have connections to terrorists, and were followed for 20 months by top counter-terrorist units.

The group succeeded in purchasing uranium from Russia, but was captured in 2006, before the uranium could be resold. Roger Berry, an official in charge of monitoring weapons exports, was quoted as saying “[Iran] may argue that the material is for civilian use but it does seem an extremely odd way to procure uranium.”