NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, issued the following statement today in response to German engineering and automotive firm MAN SE, which responded to UANI’s campaign by stating that its business in Iran complies with EU sanctions:
MAN must immediately and completely end its Iran business activities, particularly those related to the construction of new Iranian tankers. MAN’s claim that its current work with the Iranian regime technically complies with EU sanctions is weak and insufficient. Moreover, MAN’s Iran business is clearly irresponsible, unethical, and in direct contravention of international efforts to isolate the Iranian regime and degrade its capacity to transport crude oil.
MAN’s attempt to justify its Iran business through legal parsing is unacceptable. The U.S. and EU are attempting to economically isolate Iran, particularly by hampering its shipping industry, and companies such as MAN that continue to aid the regime are significantly interfering with those efforts. Businesses can no longer defy the efforts of governments and private entities to isolate Iran without facing serious reputational and financial consequences. MAN must immediately clarify its involvement in the construction of new vessels for the Iranian regime.
UANI’s call for MAN to end its business in Iran was reported by the German newspaper Die Welt, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Trend.az. As Die Welt reported: “After researching, UANI said MAN should end the construction of at least five other ships for the state shipping company IRISL, which is also on the sanctions list. Today, IRISL has several private limited companies in Hamburg. MAN’s Iranian partner in this business is said to be the Persian Gulf Shipbuilding Corporation, a company that is controlled by the regime.”
UANI's “Germany Campaign” highlights the extensive Iran business activities of German businesses, firms and entities. German businesses are bolstering the Iranian economy and expanding Iranian industrial capacity at a time when the international community is working to economically isolate the Iranian regime.
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to read an English translation of the Die Welt story, “MAN Comes
Under Pressure Because of Iran Business.”
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to read UANI’s January 7 letter to MAN.
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to send a message to MAN.
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to learn more about UANI's Shipping Campaign.
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to learn more about UANI’s Germany Campaign.