UANI

"Ashland Inc. (ASH), the biggest producer of specialty papermaking chemicals, said a 50-50 joint venture with Switzerland's Clariant AG (CLN) sold products to Iran without the approval of the U.S. government. Units of the ASK Chemicals GmbH venture sold "granulate, coatings and hot top products" from Oct. 1 through March 1 to entities that may be owned or controlled by the Iranian government, Covington, Kentucky-based Ashland said today in its 10-Q filing. The products generated 715,000 euros ($934,000) of sales and 75,000 euros of profit, Ashland said. The products are used in metal casting, said Gary Rhodes, an Ashland spokesman. ASK's supervisory board unanimously voted in March to end transactions with Iran and ASK is terminating all business in the country, Ashland said in the filing." (Bloomberg, "Ashland Says Joint Venture Sold Products to Iran," 5/2/13)

Crowe Horwath confirmed its status as a "Corresponding Member" in Iran in the April 2010 issue of the International Accounting Bulletin.  

--

Crowe Horwath lists partner firms in Iran on its company website. ("Our Locations," Company website)

--

"RSM, a UK-based firm, and Crowe Horwath of the US have joined Grant Thornton, one of the second-tier international accountancy firms, in leaving Iran after coming under US political pressure... RSM said it would cease working with Dayarayan Auditing & Financial Services, while Crowe Horwath said it would cut ties with Hoshiyar/Behmand & Co." (Financial Times, "Three accounting firms pull out of Iran," 4/26/2013) 

Buehler LTD is affiliated with Buehler GmbH, located in Dusseldorf, Germany

--

In 2008, Buehler was assessed a penalty of $200,000 by the U.S. Department of Commerce for using its German affiliate (Buehler GmbH) to reexport a chemical product mixture called Coolmet from Germany to Iran without U.S. permission. Such reexportation without permission is a violation U.S. Export Administrations Regulations. (United States Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security, "Order Relating to Buehler Limited," 2008)

Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 company specializing in diesel engines and generators.  Cummins Inc. also owns a number of companies and brands producing filtration products, fuel systems, air handling, and emissions control systems.  

--

Cummins Inc. and its subsidiaries Cummins Filtration and Cummins Turbo Technologies list Iran on their respective regions of business. (Cummins: Worldwide Service Locator)  (Cummins Filtration: Retail Locator”) (Cummins Turbo Technologies: Nearest Holset Distributor)

Cummins Inc. has completed multiple projects with numerous Iranian partners as late as 2006, supplying machinery for subway tunnel construction, dam construction, and oil field development.  (Cummins Niroo: Case Histories)

--

Cummins Inc. supplies diesel engines to numerous automakers currently or formerly involved in Iran, including Volvo Trucks, Iveco, and CNH.  Cummins Inc. has entered into joint ventures with two Chinese manufacturers that currently do business in Iran, Guanxi LiuGong Machinery Co. Ltd and Dongfeng Motor Corporation. Dongfeng Motor Corporation is partnered with IDRO's Saipa Group and manufactured over 4,500 trucks in Iran in 2010 alone.  (Liugong: News) (IVMA: 2010 Production Statistics)

--

Numerous Iranian firms advertise Cummins Inc.'s products, including: 

• Raad Engineering Group, which lists a sale of Cummins machinery to the EU, U.S. and UN-sanctioned Khatam Al-Anbiya (Raad Engineering Group: Projects)
• Cummins Niroo Co. prominently displays the Cummins logo and provides case histories of Cummins projects in Iran (Cummins Niroo Co.)
• RieanPishro Co. lists a wide range of Cummins generators (RieanPishro Co.: Archives)
• Parsian Diesel Power Plant Development Co. lists a wide range of Cummins generators (Parsian-Ind.)
• Omrab Engineering Company provides profiles of construction projects that used Cummins products  (Omrab: Oil & Gas Utilities) 

"New Jersey-based Lawrenceville Plasma Physics Inc and Tehran's Islamic Azad University will jointly design a fusion machine that 'would be affordable to construct in industrializing nations', according to a contract signed last weekend and seen by The Guardian... Sceptics doubt whether US trade sanctions will permit the collaboration. But LPP claimed in a written statement that the pact qualifies as an official US department of treasury exemption 'which authorizes collaborating with academics and research institutions on the … creation and enhancement of written publications.' LPP is scheduled to notify the president's  council of advisors on science and technology of its Iranian partnership at 2pm ET on Friday in Washington DC... LPP is one of several small companies that believe they can crack fusion far sooner than can ITER or the National Ignition Facility (NIF), another international behemoth, based in Livermore, California. Two months ago, LPP reported a breakthrough when it confined a gas at 1.8bn degrees C, much higher than the industry record of 1.1bn degrees C that had stood since 1978... LPP and Azad University are developing 'aneutronic' fusion, which would not rely on neutrons. It would eliminate turbines by providing electricity directly through charged ions." (The Guardian, "Iranian team to collaborate with US company on nuclear fusion project," 5/25/2012)

"Baghdasarian was president of Delfin Group USA, a Russian-owned producer and supplier of synthetic motor oils that solidified its U.S. presence in the North Charleston area in 2008 with a $55 million renovation to an old Shell Oil plant it had bought for $20 million... According to prosecutors, one of those unidentified businessmen was Baghdasarian's agent in Iran and also represented a company in the United Arab Emirates used to ship Delfin products to Iran... In August 2011, Delfin USA tried to send aviation engine lubricating oils worth $850,000 to an associate in the UAE, according to Hardin." (Bloomberg Businessweek, "Feds: SC businessman illegally exported to Iran," 5/23/2012)

"A French car manufacturer that is partially owned by the taxpayer-funded General Motors Company (GM) claims to have ceased its longtime business dealings with Iran, though experts have cast doubts on this claim. GM owns a seven percent stake in PSA Peugeot Citroën, which has faced intense scrutiny for its business relationship with Iran... Although Peugeot and GM maintain the manufacturer 'suspended' shipments to Iran in March, sanctions experts argue that the relationship has continued to flourish behind the scenes... Peugeot’s alliance with Iran is of particular concern to UANI and other observers due to GM’s stake in the corporation. 'In this holiday season, as charities compete for Americans’ generosity, Americans should know that thanks to GM’s partnership with Peugeot, a company funded with their tax money has effectively made its own charitable contribution to enrich a genocidal regime,' said Michael Rubin, a former Pentagon adviser on Iran and Iraq. As one of Tehran’s top trading partners, the GM-backed Peugeot is responsible for injecting billions into the Iranian economy, thereby frustrating Western efforts to sanction Iran for its nuclear enrichment program. 'The hundreds of millions of dollars that Citroen generates for the Iranian economy through taxes, fees etc., flows through the IRGC, the entity that runs the financial arm of Iran’s nuclear and terror programs,' said Mark Langerman, a financial adviser who is managing director at the Patriot Fund, an investment firm that shuns companies tied to Iran. 'We bailed GM out to the tune $50 billion and the U.S. Treasury Department owns over 25 percent of GM stock, which means by extension that we—you and me—own stock in a company that is partnered with one on the biggest contributors to Iran’s economy,' Langerman said. A GM spokesperson did not respond to a Washington Free Beacon request for comment... GM originally struck a deal to purchase seven percent of Peugeot in February, when the company was still dealing with Iran despite U.S. economic sanctions banning this type of activity. GM spent $400 million for its stake in Peugeot, according to reports." (The Washington Free Beacon, "Making Mullah Mobiles," 12/17/2012)

--
"ONA is a leading manufacturer of electrical discharge machining equipment, a kind of industrial tool used to make production parts for the electronic, aerospace and auto industries. The company lists the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Air France and General Motors among its customers." (The Wall Street Journal, "Spain Raids Company Over Suspected Iran Export," 11/26/2012) 

--

"PSA Peugeot Citroen SA and hundreds of smaller firms are feeling the sting of sanctions against Tehran as the French government withholds 220 million euros set aside by an Iranian bank for future payments for exports, due to a fear of harming Peugeot's alliance with U.S. auto-maker General Motors Co. . . . The French Treasury has refused to release any of the money previously set aside in a Bank Tejarat account in Paris to guarantee payments for exports. The deliveries had been committed before the European Union introduced sanctions on the Iranian commercial bank on Jan. 23, people familiar with the matter said this week. Although the EU had allowed a two-month period for completing ongoing transactions with Bank Tejarat, the companies are still waiting for the French Treasury to permit the funds' release. 

This is because the French government first wants to ensure that allowing the release of some of that money to Peugeot, for spare parts orders from Iran Khodro Co., won't jeopardize the French auto maker's alliance with General Motors, one person said. Iran Khodro Co. assembles automobiles from kits provided by the French company. 

General Motors became the second-largest shareholder in Peugeot in March, buying 7% for EUR240 million. The GM alliance with Peugeot--Europe's second-largest car maker after Germany's Volkswagen AG --also covers the joint development of new parts and platforms on which their brands will base new models. That is seen as a key advantage in attempts to revive the fortunes of the French car maker, which is struggling amid a downturn in the European automotive industry' . . .

Any release of letters of credit to Peugeot could complicate matters for the General Motors tie-up, because Tejarat is under sanctions in both Europe and the U.S., a person familiar with the matter said. This leaves the future of the French auto maker's business with Iran in limbo. Both Peugeot and General Motors declined to comment on the Tejarat funds. A spokesman for General Motors did say that Peugeot had made the decision to suspend the shipments of spare parts to Iran prior to entering the alliance. 'GM's agreement with Peugeot is fully compliant with US law governing trade with Iran, and is not intended to benefit Iran in any way,' the spokesman for the U.S. automaker said.

Peugeot's Iran business is particularly sensitive because the U.S. Treasury holds a stake in GM. GM said in February that the Treasury held a 31.9% stake. That could make the very institution that enforces sanctions in Washington an indirect beneficiary of Iranian business if Peugeot received payment from the Middle-Eastern nation. Yet while confirming Peugeot had suspended deliveries to Tehran for the time being, a Peugeot spokeswoman said the company has not permanently pulled out of Iran." (Dow Jones, "France Withholds Funds From Peugeot Over Iran Sanctions Fears -Sources," 8/21/12)

--

"Deeply conflicting views as to whether or not PSA Peugeot Citroen has halted shipments of vital components to Iranian partner, IKCO, are being set against a widening clamour in the US for General Motors to put pressure on its new French partner to end the relationship with Tehran. Iran Khodro insisted to just-auto this afternoon (19 June) shipments of parts were continuing into ports in the country, with the French automaker previously saying it had suspended delivery of components for the 206 and 405 models until July to comply with European Union and US sanctions. Into the fray has also stepped powerful American lobby, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which has been applying intense pressure on GM and Peugeot with the US manufacturer now holding 7% of its French partner. Writing two weeks ago in the US, UANI CEO, Mark Wallace, a former US ambassador to the United Nations noted: 'We again call on GM and Peugeot to take the responsible action of evaluating Peugeot's business in Iran and putting a complete and final end to it.' However, in calls made by just-auto to Tehran today, IKCO insisted ships were docking in Iran, as shown by the production lines continuing to run.'The evidence shows shipments is continued," reliable sources in IKCO told just-auto. 'There is not any problem in shipments of Peugeot product parts - shipments of Peugeot are continuing here.' However, PSA remains adamant it has stopped supplying ICKO in accordance with the strict sanctions regime, adopting a robust position concerning Paris' position with Tehran, although it left open the possibility business could restart in September . . . UANI has also raised the financial temperature by highlighting what Wallace refers to as the "taxpayer-funded US$50bn bailout of GM" in order to attempt to put further pressure on its French partner and noting it was "completely unacceptable" for Detroit to be aligned financially with Peugeot's activities in Iran." (Just-Auto, "IRAN: IKCO and Peugeot at loggerheads on Tehran shipments," 6/19/12)

--

"ISACO Chief Executive Officer Behzad Zahiri...said that IKCO has not yet received any official announcement from Peugeot indicating a halt in their mutual cooperation...Currently 10 to 15 percent of spare parts required for IKCO cars are supplied by Peugeot. In case Peugeot stops spare part supply, the required parts could be easily replaced by domestic suppliers or suppliers from other countries. Last year, 37 percent of the needed...The French auto-manufacturing group PSA Peugeot Citroen has suspended operations at one of its factories in northeastern France because of a halt to shipments of spare parts from Iran. PSA Peugeot Citroen reportedly stopped its trade with Iran on February 20 after the enforcement of US-led sanctions against the Islamic Republic for its nuclear energy program. Iran was PSA Peugeot Citroen’s second-biggest market in 2011 in terms of trade volume" (PressTV, "ISACO ready to supply spare parts if Peugeot imposes sanctions," 4/19/12)

--

"The Fars branch CEO Mohammad Javad Habibi said the company produces one car per hour and it is expected to exceed five units this year. The unit has produced 250 Peugeot Pars sedans since the beginning of the mass production. Roughly 100 employees are working in the company, while the increase of production would create 150 job opportunities in every working position.  The company is IKCO's fifth local production site, the total investment for which rose to almost 60,000,000 dollars.  Production capacity of IKCO in Fars exceeds 30 thousand cars in a year. All types of Peugeot 405 sedans are currently mass produced in the company."  (Payvand, "Iran Khodro's Fars branch to produce 15,000 Peugeot Pars," 4/15/12)

--

"In March, General Motors said its French partner, PSA Peugeot Citroën, suspended shipments of vehicle components to an Iranian carmaker, in compliance with US laws governing trade with Iran." (Financial Times, "Iranian Car Industry Weathers Stormy Year," 5/8/2012)
--

"An influential US anti-Iran lobby group on Wednesday called for newly tied General Motors and Peugeot to shut down Peugeot's Iran business due to Tehran's suspect nuclear program.  The United Against Nuclear Iran group said GM's new investment in PSA Peugeot Citroen should be investigated to see if it violates US sanctions on Iran, because of Peugeot's strong market position in the country. "As a working partner and now official stake-owner of Peugeot, GM owes it to its investors and customers to compel Peugeot into ending its business in Iran," said UANI head Mark Wallace, a former US ambassador to the United Nations.  "By doing business directly with the Iranian regime, Peugeot supports the regime's ability to develop its illegal nuclear weapons program, support terrorist proxies and repress the Iranian people." (AFP, "Anti-Iran lobby hits GM-Peugeot deal," 3/29/12)

--

"General Motors Co. said Wednesday that its French partner, PSA Peugeot Citroen SA, has suspended shipments of vehicle components to an Iranian car maker, and that its alliance with Peugeot "is fully compliant with U.S. law governing trade with Iran." GM has faced criticism from United Against Nuclear Iran, a group founded by a former U.S. ambassador to the U.N., and others opposed to the Iranian regime for agreeing to buy a 7% stake in the French car maker, because Peugeot has in the past supplied parts to Iranian car maker Iran Khodro.  GM, in a statement, said "we have discussed this issue with Peugeot. We understand that they made the decision to suspend the production and shipment of material into Iran some time ago--before we entered into our alliance with them in fact--and have decided to continue with that suspension. Our agreement with them is fully compliant with US law governing trade with Iran, and is not intended to benefit Iran in any way." (Wall Street Journal, "GM Says Peugeot has 'Suspended' Shipments to Iranian Car Maker, " 3/28/12)

"The Securities and Exchange Commission requested details from Priceline.com Inc. about its activities in Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba, Dow Jones Newswires reported. The report, by Joan Solsman, cites a response letter from Priceline General Counsel Peter J. Millones, who said the company wasn’t aware of any Cuban business and that its activities with residents of Iran, Syria and Sudan are relatively insignificant and don’t violate U.S. laws or regulations... The SEC contacted Priceline on Nov. 30, saying the company’s annual report indicated it provided services where countries deemed state sponsors of terrorism reside and requested detail on its activities, asking whether it posed a risk to investors, Solsman reported." (Dow Jones, "SEC Requests Details Of Priceline Activities," 3/21/2012)

"Oil major Royal Dutch/Shell is seeking to work around international sanctions by repaying a $1.4 billion oil debt to Iran with a grain barter deal via U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill CARG.UL, industry sources said... It is hoping to get clearance from U.S., UK and Dutch authorities - who will be under pressure to agree on humanitarian grounds - for an 'offset agreement' 'that would permit it to fund Cargill to deliver enough grain to Tehran to clear the debt... 'An offset transaction is the only way forward,' said another. 'They are looking at several options. The main one is Cargill.' Shell and Cargill declined to comment... Grain traders expect it to end up buying about 5 million metric tonnes on the open market in 2012, some of that supplied by Cargill." (Reuters, "Exclusive: Shell seeks Iran sanctions workaround via Cargill grain barter," 10/26/2012)

--

"The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday morning that U.S. exports to Iran were increasing despite mounting enmity between both sides, while European Union exports to Tehran were falling . . . Both commodities trader Cargill Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn., which confirmed it was still trading with Iran, and Procter & Gamble have approached members of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives over Iran sanctions, according to disclosures made as recently as July 19, and the companies themselves. For instance, Cargill queried lawmakers over food and agricultural sales over the latest sanctions legislation, the Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act of 2012, which increases the pressure on Iran by targeting national oil and tanker companies, among others. A Cargill spokesman said that it and other companies, 'were seeking clarity on the language used in the various sanctions laws and regulations, and proposed laws,' on food exports to Iran." (Wall Street Journal, "U.S. Boosts Trade to Iran, Despite Sanctions," 8/16/12)

--

"U.S. agribusiness giant Cargill also said in February it planned to continue grain shipments to Iran." (Reuters "Iran poised to start big feed grain imports," 4/13/2012)

--

"Traders were unable to confirm which grain company sold the wheat to Iran, but suspected major grain companies such as Cargill Inc, Bunge Ltd or Archer Daniels Midland. ADM and Bunge did not respond to inquiries seeking comment and Cargill said they do not comment on market rumors. 'Cargill, like a variety of other multinational companies with a global agricultural footprint, does sell agricultural commodities to Iran, as food is specifically excluded from the sanctions. We take great care to ensure that these sales respect both the spirit and the letter of the law,' Cargill spokesman Mark Klein added." (Reuters, "Iran buys US wheat despite nuclear tensions," 3/1/2012)

“A Bloomberg Markets investigation has found that Koch Industries -- in addition to being involved in improper payments to win business in Africa, India and the Middle East -- has sold millions of dollars of petrochemical equipment to Iran, a country the U.S. identifies as a sponsor of global terrorism. Internal company documents show that the company made those sales through foreign subsidiaries, thwarting a U.S. trade ban… Cohlmia says Koch fired the employees and sales agents involved in the illicit payments and strengthened internal controls. Regarding sales to Iran, she wrote, ‘During the relevant time frame covered in your article, U.S. law allowed foreign subsidiaries of U.S. multinational companies to engage in trade involving countries subject to U.S. trade sanctions, including Iran, under certain conditions.’ Koch has since stopped all of its units from trading with Iran, she says… Internal company records show that Koch Industries used its foreign subsidiary to sidestep a U.S. trade ban barring American companies from selling materials to Iran. Koch-Glitsch offices in Germany and Italy continued selling to Iran until as recently as 2007, the records show. The company’s products helped build a methanol plant for Zagros Petrochemical Co., a unit of Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Petrochemical Co., the documents show.” (Bloomberg, "Koch Brothers Flout Law Getting Richer With Secret Iran Sales," 10/3/2011)

--

"The trading with Iran involved Koch subsidiaries in Germany and Italy providing key components for a huge state-owned petro-chemical plant, despite a U.S. ban on trade with Iran since 1995."(ABC News,"Report: 'Secret Sins' of Koch Industries," 10/7/2011)