In October 2011, UANI launched its GAO Campaign. The campaign is designed to pressure those international firms cited by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) as active in Iran’s energy industry and in potential violation of U.S. sanctions against Iran.
Oil is the lifeblood of the Iranian regime. Firms active in Iran’s energy industry directly contribute to Iran's capabilities to sponsor terrorism and develop its nuclear program.
The GAO is the audit, evaluation and investigative arm of the U.S. Congress. The non-partisan and objective reports produced by GAO researchers should be used as a means to gather information and pressure those firms that continue to do sanctionable business with the Iranian regime. In light of the Iranian regime’s attempt to carry out terrorist attacks on American soil, its pursuit of an illicit nuclear weapons program and efforts to undermine pro-democracy movements in Iran and in the region, it is time for the U.S. to stringently enforce sanctions.
Campaigns
December 19, 2012: UANI called on South African multinational energy company Sasol to end its Iran business. Sasol is active in Iran through the Arya Sasol Polymer Company, which operates two polyethylene plants in Iran. The company is a $900 million joint venture between Sasol and Iran's state-owned National Petrochemical Company, which sanctioned by the U.S. At the same time, Sasol is opening a multi-billion dollar plant in Louisiana State. |
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July 9, 2012: In response to UANI's campaign, Italian energy company Edison withdrew from Iran’s energy sector, specifically its contract to explore Iran's Dayyer natural gas field. In 2011, the GAO listed Edison as one of sixteen foreign firms in potential violation of U.S. sanctions. |
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December 14, 2011: UANI called on South Korean industrial conglomerate Hyundai Heavy Industries to cease its Iran business or face U.S. sanctions. The GAO named Hyundai Heavy as one of 16 international firms currently active in Iran's oil, gas, or petrochemical sectors and one of only two firms worldwide that is expanding and upgrading Iran's refining capacity. Hyundai Heavy has also received $350 million in U.S. government contracts over the past decade, making it one of two firms involved in Iran's energy sector that also receives U.S. contracts. |
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October 13, 2011: UANI called on South Korea’s Daelim Industrial Co. to end its Iran business or face U.S. sanctions. Daelim is active in Iran’s natural gas sector while maintaining a direct office in Tehran. The GAO named Daelim as one of 16 international firms currently active in Iran's oil, gas, or petrochemical sectors and one of only two companies operating in sanctioned sectors in Iran while also benefiting from U.S. government contracts. |
The GAO outlines the activities of firms active in Iran’s energy industry in the following reports:
- Firms Reported to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products or Engaged in Commercial Activities in Iran's Energy Sector (December 7, 2012)
- Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products Declined Since June 30, 2010 (January 24, 2012)
- Firms Reported in Open Sources as Having Commercial Activity in Iran’s Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Sectors (August 3, 2011)
- Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010 (September 3, 2010)
- Firms Reported to Have Commercial Activity in the Iranian Energy Sector and U.S. Government Contracts (May 12, 2010)
- Firms Reported in Open Sources as Having Commercial Activity in Iran's Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Sectors (March 23, 2010)