WASHINGTON, Nov 5: The United States secretly acquired 14 nuclear capable MIG-29 fighters from Moldova to keep Iran from buying them, Defense Secretary William Cohen said on Tuesday. ``These MIG aircrafts were on their shopping list'', Cohen said at a news conference.

In all, 21 MIG-29 fighters, including 14 of the nuclear capable MIG-29C model, were secretly transported to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio in US C-17 aircraft starting October 10, US officials said.

How much the United States paid for the aircraft remained a mystery. Cohen and other US officials insisted that the Moldovans demanded that the price be kept secret.

As part of the deal, however, Washington agreed to supply Moldova surplus US military hardware and equipment for humanitarian operations.

The officials said it was Iran's approach to the Moldovans that triggered US interest late last year in the aircraft.

``The Moldovan military said the Iranians or dealers representing the Iranians, inspected the aircraft at a Moldovan Air base'', an official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Moldova said it had a buyer for their six remaining nuclear capable MIG-29s, but gave assurances it was not a rogue state, defense officials said.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.