UANI

"This license authorizes R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to sell its cigarettes in Iran. OFAC redacted the names of the Iranian purchasers. Iran charges an import tax of more than 7 percent on cigarettes, according to customs officials." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

"This license authorized New Century, a tobacco manufacturer, to enter into a transaction in which Yara Tech Company of Tehran would buy cigarette tax banderoles from the Iranian government tobacco monopoly, forward those to New Century, which would then deliver them to a cigarette factory where they would be applied to cigarette packs to be sold in Iran. Iran charges an import tax of more than 7 percent on cigarettes, according to customs officials." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

"This license authorized Lane Limited, a tobacco company, to export smoking tobacco and little cigars to companies that would ultimately re-export those products to the following Iranian entities: the Lariana Trading Company in Tehran for resale to BAT Pars Company in Tehran. Iran charges an import tax of more than 7 percent on cigarettes, according to customs officials." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

"Brown and Williamson Tobacco received a license to export cigarettes under the agricultural exemption to the United States trade embargo against Iran. OFAC redacted the names of the businesses in Iran that would be buying the cigarettes. Iran charges an import tax of more than 7 percent on cigarettes, according to Iranian customs officials." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

"This license authorized Philip Morris to sell cigarettes in Iran. Iran charges an import tax of more than 7 percent on cigarettes, according to customs officials." (New York Times, "Licenses Granted to U.S. Companies Run the Gamut," 12/24/10)

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"Cigarettes smuggled into Iran have been tainted with pig blood and nuclear material as part of a Western conspiracy, an Iran official claimed Friday.

The semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Mohammad Reza Madani from the Society for Fighting Smoking as saying contraband Marlboros have been contaminated with pig hemoglobin and unspecified nuclear material.

Madani claimed Philip Morris International, which sells Marlboro outside the U.S., is "led by Zionists" and deliberately exports tainted cigarettes. Pig products are considered unclean under Muslim law.

He provided no evidence or information about the confiscated cigarettes. Friday's report also gave no details on how the alleged contamination was discovered.

Tehran, which often alleges Western conspiracies, says 20 billion cigarettes are smuggled into Iran every year." (MSNBC, "Iran: West taints cigarettes with pig blood," 7/30/10)

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In their 2010 10-K forms for the SEC, Philip Morris disclosed information regarding their business in Iran. 

“Certain of our subsidiaries have established commercial arrangements involving Iran.  In January 2007, a subsidiary received a license from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control to export cigarettes to Iran. Our subsidiary received new licenses for 2008 and 2009; however, we have not made any sales to Iran pursuant to these licenses. We have no employees, operations or assets in Iran.” (EX-13 of 10-K for Philip Morris International Inc, 2/26/2010)

"Croatian tobacco company TDR, one of the Balkans' biggest tobacco firms, on Friday announced a 30-million euro (40-million-dollar) investment to build a factory in Iran.

TDR will build the factory, which is to produce 6.5 billion cigarettes a year, in the northern Iranian town of Sari with the Iranian Tobacco Company as a local partner.

Construction is due to start late 2011 and the plant will serve the southwest Asian market.

TDR said the investment 'strengthens its position as one of Croatia's biggest exporters.' Overseas sales account for about 50 percent of the company's revenues.

The Iranian factory will produce TDR brands such as "Respect" which is already on the Iranian market but also develop a new brand with its Iranian partner." (AFP, "Croatian Tobacco Company to Build Iranian Factory," 2/19/10)

"Japan Tobacco, owned 50 per cent by the Japanese government, has been aggressively expanding overseas as demand declines at home. The company dramatically ramped up production in Russia last year and has a major presence in Ukraine, Iran, Turkey and Malaysia." (The Globe and Mail, "Deals, dividends and growth set tobacco stocks alight," 4/11/07)

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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)

"According to the Ukrainian National Association of Tobacco and Alcohol Producers and Distributors SOVAT, cigarette export may grow by 8-10% in 2006 year-on-year. Last year Ukraine exported 6.5bn cigarettes. Export totalled 2.57bn cigarettes in the first five months of 2006. Main importers were Iran, Taiwan, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, and Georgia. The company Reemtsma/Imperial Tobacco is still an export leader. In January-May 2006 it supplied over 1.56bn cigarettes overseas. Then follow the companies JTI, PM and Gallaher. They exported 467bn, 246.6bn and 162bn cigarettes, respectively." (Tobacco Journal International, "Ukraine: Cigarette export to increase by 8-10% in 2006," 5/01/08)

Listed by U.S. Government as doing business in Iran. (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, List of Companies Doing Business With State Sponsors Of Terror, Removed from the internet in July of 2007)

"B.A.T. [British American Tobacco] said it now makes cigarettes for export to Iran in Turkey. (USA Today, "From bull semen to bras, Iran still buys American," 7/9/08)

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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)