VIENNA, Jan 29: Iran has a stake in the world's biggest open-pit uranium mine in the African state of Namibia, the mine's owner said on Saturday.

Rossing Uranium, which is majority owned by Anglo-Australian firm Rio Tinto, sells its uranium to nuclear power plants in the United States, Japan, South Korea and Sweden.

Graham Davidson, the general manager for operations at Rossing, said in a letter that the company's board of directors only permits the sale of uranium for use in generating electricity.

"The government of Iran has held a 15 per cent shareholding in Rossing Uranium Limited since 1975," he said.

"Representatives of the government of Iran routinely attend the Rossing board of directors meetings," Mr Davidson said, adding that shareholders do not have "product off-take rights".

Davidson said there were no contracts with Iran for the sale of milled uranium oxide. The company has yet to respond to a question whether Tehran had purchased any Rossing uranium in the past.-Reuters