Radical Islamic terrorists in Africa are mining uranium and plan to send it to Iran, according to a new report.
Fox News reported Thursday that al-Qaida affiliate al-Shabaab is working with a regional Islamic State (ISIS) network in Somalia. The groups have seized control of a uranium mine and are currently strip mining the ore.
The revelations were detailed in an Aug. 11 letter prepared by Somalia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Garaad Omar and sent to U.S. Ambassador to Somalia Stephen Schwartz. Fox News posted a copy of the letter.
"This issue can be summed up in a single word: uranium," Omar wrote. "Al-Shabaab forces have captured critical surface exposed uranium deposits in the Galmudug region and are strip mining triuranium octoxide for transport to Iran."
Uranium is used for nuclear fuel and nuclear weapons. Iran signed an international agreement in 2015 that severely curbed its nuclear activities, although it's not entirely clear if Iran is abiding by the terms.
"Only the United States has the capacity to identify and smash Al-Shabaab elements operating within our country," Omar's letter reads. "The time for surgical strikes and limited engagement has passed, as Somalia's problems have metastasized into the World's problems."
The Iran nuclear deal was signed under former President Barack Obama and has been highly criticized by Republicans, who say it did not do enough to stop Iran's nuclear ambitions. This month, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani threatened to restart his country's nuclear program.
Iran is also sending its warships into the western Atlantic Ocean to flex its military might after the U.S. accused it of violating the nuclear agreement.
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