UANI

"French banks BNP Paribas (BNP) and Credit Agricole are conducting internal inquiries into U.S. dollar payments to check whether they are potentially in breach of American sanctions, the banks said on Monday... 'We are conducting an internal review,' said a spokesman for BNP, citing a disclosure from its 2011 annual report that said the probe concerned 'certain U.S. dollar payments involving countries, persons and entities that could be subject to U.S. sanctions,' adding that hte bank had spoken to American regulators." (Reuters, "French banks investigate potential breach of U.S. sanctions," 8/27/12) 

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"BNP Paribas respects the embargo on Iran," spokesman Ilias Catsaros said. "The bank stopped writing new business in Iran as of 2007 and has since been winding down its existing activities."  The company has received $37.6 million in revenue and benefits from the US government for their investments in Iran during 2000-2009.  Their activities in Iran are currently active with no plan for new investments. (The New York Times, "Profiting from Iran, and the US," 3/6/2010)

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"GIANTS WITH A FOOT IN TEHRAN: Total, Shell, Statoil, BNP Paribas, Commerzbank, MTN, UPS, Linde, Technip, Nokia, Ericsson, Peugeot, Renault, OMV, Societe Generale, ENI, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Siemens, LG, Samsung, Bosch, Valeo, Nestle, Unilever, BAT, Japan Tobacco." (The London Times, "American pressure threatens UK firms," 5/27/06)