New York's financial regulator has asked Lloyd's ofLondon, Swiss Re and Hannover Re for details about dealings linkedto Iran as part of a probe into 20 non-U.S. reinsurance firms, theWall Street Journal reported.

Citing a copy of the letter, the newspaper said Benjamin Lawsky(pictured), superintendent of New York's Department of FinancialServices, had written to the reinsurance firms asking for detailsabout their business with people or entities linked to Iran afterfinding evidence that at least three firms insured shipments toIran.

Lloyd's and Swiss RE were not immediately available tocomment.

The United States and the European Union imposed sanctions onIran last year that include restrictions on insuring shipments. Themeasures are aimed at making it hard for Iran to sell oil, andlimit funds to its nuclear program which countries in the Westbelieve is being used to develop weapons.

Iran says the program is purely for civilian purposes.

Read the full Wall Street Journal story HERE.