UANI Open Letter on Iran Business Risks Published in Financial Times

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November 9, 2015
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UANI Open Letter on Iran Business Risks Published in Financial Times

New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran's (UANI) open letter calling on the global business community to consider the substantial risks of business ties in Iran was published today in the Financial Times, one element in an international campaign to highlight the legal, financial, and reputational dangers facing companies contemplating business with the world's leading state sponsor of terror.

The letter is signed by dozens of prominent defense and foreign policy experts. Signatories include former Homeland Security Advisor Fran Townsend, former Acting and Deputy CIA Director Michael Morell, former Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Senators Kit Bond and Norm Coleman, Ambassador Dennis Ross, and former National Security Advisor to the Vice President John Hannah, among others.

The adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement has been interpreted by some companies as a signal to pursue new ventures in Iran. UANI's letter enumerates the multiple categories of sanctions still in place, and urges companies to act with extreme caution until such time Iran demonstrates sustained compliance with the JCPOA, and ceases its sponsorship of terrorism, widespread human rights abuses, and relentless and destabilizing aggression in the region.

"Just last week, the U.S. Department of the Treasury blacklisted several individuals and companies that have been bolstering the military and terrorist capabilities of Iran's favorite terror proxy, Hezbollah," said UANI CEO Mark D. Wallace, a former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. "The Treasury announcement, coupled with the reality of Iran's broadening campaign of imprisoning visiting businessmen, should cause prudent businesses to exercise extreme caution."

The letter reads in part:

"Severe legal, financial, and reputational risks associated with Iran business will continue for the foreseeable future--unless and until Iran fundamentally changes its behavior. Consequently, companies should conclude that business opportunities in Iran still are not worth the risk."

Click here to view the Open Letter in today's Financial Times.
Click here to read the Open Letter.

UANI is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy group aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. An outspoken and tireless advocate for implementation of a robust sanctions regime against Iran, UANI has been at the vanguard of efforts to ensure that any U.S. agreement with Iran is solidly in the national security interests of the United States and precludes Tehran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

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