UANI

AngloAmerican is one of the world's largest mining companies, with operations on six continents, annual earnings of $2.6 billion, and over 100,000 worldwide employees. AngloAmerican specializes in platinum, diamonds, copper, nickel, iron ore, and coal (Company Website). 

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Iran International magazine reported that an AngloAmerican subsidiary, Anglo Exploration GmbH, "officially opened an Iranian branch office in Tehran" (Iran International). 

Rio Tinto has interests in two uranium mines. One of these is Rössing in Namibia, in which it owns a 69 per cent interest. Rössing is one of the largest open pit uranium mines in the world. The mine currently produces about 7.55 per cent of the world's uranium. Rio Tinto states that Rössing operates “uranium under strict safeguard practices where there is never a diversion of nuclear material from commercial nuclear power stations to nuclear weapons.” (Rio Tinto Group, “Uranium”)

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"Rio Tinto Group, the world’s third- largest mining company, said Iran can maintain a 15 percent stake in its Rossing uranium operation after a United Nations ruling barred the country from investing in mines of the fuel... 'It is shameful that Rio Tinto would attempt to defend any business with Iran,' Kimmie Lipscomb, a spokeswoman for New York-based non-profit group United Against Nuclear Iran, said today. 'How can Rio Tinto claim that by conducting business with Iran in a uranium mining venture, it is not contributing to Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons?'... Mark D. Wallace, president of UANI and a former U.S. ambassador to the UN, wrote to Rio Chairman Jan du Plessis last week, saying Iran’s stake appeared to be a violation of U.S. law. He requested a response by Nov. 2. 'Profits from the Rossing uranium mine are channeled directly to the Iranian government, emboldening and financially empowering its pursuit of an illegal nuclear weapons program,' Wallace wrote in the letter dated Oct. 21. 'It is time for Rio Tinto and Rossing to recognize this threat as well and follow the lead of other responsible companies and stop putting short- term profits ahead of Iran’s clear threat to global security.'"(Bloomberg, "Rio Tinto Says Iran is Allowed to Keep 15% Stake in Namibian Uraniaum Mine," 10/27/2010)

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Since 1975 under the rule of the Shah, the government of Iran has held a 15 percent share in Rossing. In 2005, according to Graham Davidson, the general manager for operations at Rossing, “Representatives of the government of Iran routinely attend the Rossing board of directors meetings.” Davidson further added that milled uranium oxide (“yellowcake”) for centrifuges is not sold to Iran. The company, however, did not respond to a question of whether Tehran had purchased any Rossing uranium in the past. (Reuters, “Iran Has Stake in Namibia Uranium Mine, Says Owner,” 1/29/05)

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The Namibian government reports that Rossing is under pressure from Western countries to not sell uranium to Iran. Prime Minister Nahas Angula “could not say whether Namibia was supplying Iran with uranium but revealed that government viewed Iran as one of its customers who have contracts to buy uranium mined from the country.” (APA, “Namibia under pressure not to supply uranium to Iran,” 2/3/09)

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Rio Tinto disclosed in its 2008 Annual Report Form that it had “signed a final and binding sale agreement to divest the whole of its [70 percent] interest in the Sari Gunay gold project in western Iran. On the completion of this transaction, which is expected in mid 2008, Rio Tinto intends to close its office in Iran and will cease to have any interests in Iran.” Rio Tinto’s filings make no disclosure on Iran’s interest in the Rössing uranium mine. (Rio Tinto 2008 Annual Report Form)

Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian international mining group, owns a 69 percent interest in Rossing. (http://www.rossing.com/)

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"Despite international sanctions designed to derail Iran's nuclear program, the Islamic Republic legally owns 15 percent of the third largest uranium mine in the world. How is this possible? Ask the management of Rossing Uranium Limited in the southern African nation of Namibia. According to the company's most recent annual report, Iran has owned a sizeable stake in it since the early 1970s. The United Nations has made it illegal to sell fissile material to the Iranians, but it somehow allows them to own a major stake in a uranium mine. This is a loophole that needs to be addressed at Turtle Bay." (The Hill, "Iran's Uranium Holdings," 10/12/10)

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"Rio Tinto Group, the world’s third- largest mining company, said Iran can maintain a 15 percent stake in its Rossing uranium operation after a United Nations ruling barred the country from investing in mines of the fuel... 'It is shameful that Rio Tinto would attempt to defend any business with Iran,' Kimmie Lipscomb, a spokeswoman for New York-based non-profit group United Against Nuclear Iran, said today. 'How can Rio Tinto claim that by conducting business with Iran in a uranium mining venture, it is not contributing to Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons?'... Mark D. Wallace, president of UANI and a former U.S. ambassador to the UN, wrote to Rio Chairman Jan du Plessis last week, saying Iran’s stake appeared to be a violation of U.S. law. He requested a response by Nov. 2. 'Profits from the Rossing uranium mine are channeled directly to the Iranian government, emboldening and financially empowering its pursuit of an illegal nuclear weapons program,' Wallace wrote in the letter dated Oct. 21. 'It is time for Rio Tinto and Rossing to recognize this threat as well and follow the lead of other responsible companies and stop putting short- term profits ahead of Iran’s clear threat to global security.'"(Bloomberg, "Rio Tinto Says Iran is Allowed to Keep 15% Stake in Namibian Uraniaum Mine," 10/27/2010)

• "So why, according to sensitive trading records seen by the Guardian, did other European oil giants, including Shell, Total and API, increase their purchases? The answers illustrate the tendency of the increasingly complex measures being taken against Iran to throw up unintended consequences, and the apparent willingness of some oil firms to place profits ahead of the west's political strategy... Shell, Total and API all stressed they bought the oil at the market price and that no additional discount was received." (The Guardian, "Oil firms reap benefits of Iran's build-up of crude oil stocks," 9/27/2010) 

Azerbaijan will more than double gas supplies to Iran to 1 billion cubic metres per year under a five-year deal signed on Wednesday, Azeri state energy firm SOCAR said. SOCAR said it signed the deal with the National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC), and that volumes would increase from 1 bcm in the first year (Reuters, "Azerbaijan to boost gas supplies to Iran," 1/12/11).

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"Iran is in talks with Azerbaijan to finalize the long-term Azeri gas importation deal within the next three months, the managing director of National Iranian Gas Export Company (NIGEC) said on Wednesday. Seyed Reza Kasaeizadeh added that the deal will allow supplying about 5 million cubic meters of the Azerbaijani gas per day (about 1.8 billion cubic meters per year) to Iran." (Tehran Times, "Tehran, Baku to finalize gas deal in three months," 1/21/2010).

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"The Islamic Republic of Iran tends to import 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan, annually." (Moj News Agency, "Iran, Azerbaijan to Finalize Gas Deal," 9/16/2009)

“Aker Wirth GmbH develops, manufactures, and sells drilling equipment and machinery in Germany and internationally. It offers tunnel and foundation boring machines for infrastructure projects; core components and solutions for the oil and natural gas industry; and pumping systems for mining and processing industries. The company’s products include draw works, mud pumps, and rotary tables and swivels; full-face tunnel boring, partial excavation, and slurry transport and processing equipment; onshore and offshore foundation, wind energy, and drill string and cutter equipment; and spare parts. It also offers second hand machinery, as well as provides service contacts. The company was formerly known as WIRTH Maschinen- und Bohrgeräte-Fabrik GmbH and changed its name to Aker Wirth GmbH on June 30, 2009. The company was founded in 1895 and is based in Erkelenz, Germany. As of September 4, 2007, Aker Wirth GmbH is a subsidiary of Aker Solutions ASA” (Bloomberg Business Week, "Aker Wirth GmbH – Private Company Information," 2010.)

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In the business of TBMs, “Aker Wirth manufactures and supplies tunnel boring machines for mechanized tunnel driving for all geological conditions and all environmental requirements. Aker Wirth machines are in use in tunnel boring projects all over the world and for the excavation of a wide variety of tunnels” (Mining Technology, Net Resources International, "Aker Wirth - Tunnel Boring Machines, Raise Boring and Full-Face Shaft Boring Machines," 2010).

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Wirth has an Iran office, WPS Group Ltd. (Iranian Wirth Subsidiary)

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An Iranian website features Wirth tunneling projects in Iran, including the Tabriz Metro Project.  (Iran Project website)
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Wirth has been involved in completed tunneling projects in Alborz and Ghomrud (World Tunnelling, “Iranian TBMs continue steady march,” December 23, 2009). 

The Persian Gold PLC website openly states that it "is an Irish based AIM quoted company in 2003 to examine and explore for large gold deposits in the altered volcanics of Iran... Largely unexplored in the last 30 years, Iran has low operating costs and excellent infrastructure with a highly educated and well trained workforce."

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A March 2009 company press release states, "John Teeling [Persian Gold PLC Chairman] is not one of those who shuns geo-political risk. Angels may fear to tread, but Colombia, Iran, Iraq, Zimbabwe and other “difficult” countries appear to be meat and drink to the Teeling team."

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In the third quarter of 2009, the Florida Retirement System Trust Fund (Pension) prohibited financial investment in the company due to its operations in Iran. ("Protecting Florida’s Investments Act (PFIA): Quarterly Report," 7/28/09)

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)