UANI

"The oil rigs currently operating in Iranian waters mostly work for Iranian state-owned companies. The rigs are owned by a variety of foreign firms, including Norway's Sinvest, London-based Foresight Group, China Oilfield Service, Japan Drilling and Saipem, a subsidiary of Italian oil giant ENI. Industry sources said they would probably be certified by either Lloyd's or Bureau Veritas. BV did not respond to inquiries." (The Washington Post, "Congress sees shipping-certification firms as tool to tighten Iran noose," 12/5/2011)

"Huawei Technologies Co. confirmed it sold telecom equipment and a 'mobile news delivery platform' to MTN Irancell Telecommunications Services Co., Iran's second- largest mobile provider, while denying the gear is used for censorship... Huawei, China's largest maker of phone network equipment, doesn’t provide 'any services relating to monitoring or filtering technologies and equipment anywhere in the world,' the Shenzhen, China-based company said in a e-mailed statement today... The company said it issued the statement on Iran in response to 'inaccurate and misleading claims' about its 'commercial activities' in Iran, without identifying the source of those claims. Both Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal published reports last month saying Iranian authorities use technology purchased from foreign companies to monitor dissidents... 'Huawei provides a mobile news delivery platform to MTN Irancell, but we have no involvement in any aspect of the content of the information that is provided on that platform,' the Huawei statement said. 'Most importantly, we have absolutely no technology that can be used for news censorship.'... Ross Gan, a spokesman for Huawei, had earlier told Bloomberg News that any equipment the company provides to customers is strictly for commercial use only." (Bloomberg, "Huawei Confirms MTN Irancell Sales, Denies Gear is Used for Censorship,"11/7/2011)

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“When Western companies pulled back from Iran after the government's bloody crackdown on its citizens two years ago, a Chinese telecom giant filled the vacuum. Huawei Technologies Co. now dominates Iran's government-controlled mobile-phone industry. In doing so, it plays a role in enabling Iran's state security network. Huawei recently signed a contract to install equipment for a system at Iran's largest mobile-phone operator that allows police to track people based on the locations of their cellphones, according to interviews with telecom employees both in Iran and abroad, and corporate bidding documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. It also has provided support for similar services at Iran's second-largest mobile-phone provider. Huawei notes that nearly all countries require police access to cell networks, including the U.S. Huawei's role in Iran demonstrates the ease with which countries can obtain foreign technology that can be used to stifle dissent through censorship or surveillance. Many of the technologies Huawei supports in Iran—such as location services—are available on Western networks as well. The difference is that, in the hands of repressive regimes, it can be a critical tool in helping to quash dissent… This year Huawei made a pitch to Iranian government officials to sell equipment for a mobile news service on Iran's second-largest mobile-phone operator, MTN Irancell. According to a person who attended the meeting, Huawei representatives emphasized that, being from China, they had expertise censoring the news. The company won the contract and the operator rolled out the service, according to this person. MTN Irancell made no reference to censorship in its announcement about its ‘mobile newspaper’ service. But Iran routinely censors the Internet using sophisticated filtering technology. The Journal reported in June that Iran was planning to create its own domestic Internet to combat Western ideas, culture and influence. In winning Iranian contracts, Huawei has sometimes partnered with Zaeim Electronic Industries Co., an Iranian electronics firm whose website says its clients include the intelligence and defense ministries, as well as the country's elite special-forces unit, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. This month the U.S. accused a branch of the Revolutionary Guards of plotting to kill Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S. Iran denies the claim. Huawei's chief spokesman, Ross Gan, said, ‘It is our corporate commitment to comply strictly with all U.N. economic sanctions, Chinese regulations and applicable national regulations on export control. We believe our business operations in Iran fully meet all of these relevant regulations.’ William Plummer, Huawei's vice president of external affairs in Washington, said the company's location-based-service offerings comply with ‘global specifications’ that require lawful-interception capabilities. ‘What we're doing in Iran is the same as what we're doing in any market,’ he said. ‘Our goal is to enrich people's lives through communications.’ Huawei has about 1,000 employees in Iran, according to people familiar with its Iran operations. In an interview in China, a Huawei executive played down the company's activities in Iran's mobile-phone industry, saying its technicians only service Huawei equipment, primarily routers. But a person familiar with Huawei's Mideast operations says the company's role is considerably greater, and includes a contract for ‘managed services’—overseeing parts of the network—at MTN Irancell, which is majority owned by the government. During 2009's demonstrations, this person said, Huawei carried out government orders on behalf of its client, MTN Irancell, that MTN and other carriers had received to suspend text messaging and block the Internet phone service, Skype, which is popular among dissidents. Huawei's Mr. Plummer disputed that the company blocked such services. Huawei, one of the world's top makers of telecom equipment, has been trying to expand in the U.S. It has met resistance because of concerns it could be tied to the Chinese government and military, which the company denies. Last month the U.S. Commerce Department barred Huawei from participating in the development of a national wireless emergency network for police, fire and medical personnel because of ‘national security concerns.’ A Commerce Department official declined to elaborate. In February, Huawei withdrew its attempt to win U.S. approval for acquiring assets and server technology from 3Leaf Systems Inc. of California, citing opposition by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. The panel reviews U.S. acquisitions by foreign companies that may have national-security implications. Last year, Sprint Nextel Corp. excluded Huawei from a multibillion-dollar contract because of national-security concerns in Washington, according to people familiar with the matter. Huawei has operated in Iran's telecommunications industry since 1999, according to China's embassy in Tehran. Prior to Iran's political unrest in 2009, Huawei was already a major supplier to Iran's mobile-phone networks, along with Telefon AB L.M. Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks, a joint venture between Nokia Corp. and Siemens AG, according to MTN Irancell documents… As NSN and Ericsson pulled back, Huawei's business grew. In August 2009, two months after mass protests began, the website of China's embassy in Tehran reprinted a local article under the headline, ‘Huawei Plans Takeover of Iran's Telecom Market.’ The article said the company ‘has gained the trust and alliance of major governmental and private entities within a short period,’ and that its clients included ‘military industries.’ The same month the Chinese embassy posted the article, Creativity Software, a British company that specializes in ‘location-based services,’ announced it had won a contract to supply a system to MTN Irancell. ‘Creativity Software has worked in partnership with Huawei, where they will provide first and second level support to the operator,’ the company said… One of the ultimate winners: Huawei. According to a Huawei manager in Tehran, the company signed a contract this year to provide equipment for location-based services to MCCI in the south of Iran and is now ramping up hiring for the project. One local Iranian company Huawei has done considerable business with is Zaeim Electronic Industries. ‘Zaeim is the security and intelligence wing of every telecom bid,’ said an engineer who worked on several projects with Zaeim inside the telecom ministry.” (The Wall Street Journal. “Chinese Tech Giant Aids Iran,” 10/27/11)

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Nobel Peace Laureate and human rights activist Shrin Ebadi stated that “through use of software provided by Chinese companies, the Iranian government taps and listens to telephone conversations and monitors targeted electronic mail exchanges.” (International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, “Shirin Ebadi: ‘Nokia Siemens’ Action a Major Accomplishment for Iranians and for People Of The World,’” 10/6/10)

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130 Iranian cities “are currently taking advantage of the optic fiber network implemented by Huawei. According to Huawei electrical industries, military industries and private ISPs are among other clients of this telecom giant.” (Iran Telecom Digest, “Huawei Plans Takeover of Iran's Telecom Market,” 8/16/09)

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Huawei signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI) in 2008 to offer joint educational programs on wireline and wireless technologies at the Telecommunications College in Isfahan. (Telegeography, “Huawei offers telecoms training in Iran,” 4/22/08)

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As of July 2010, Huawei had “sold roughly $800m of its products to US customers under Motorola's brand as part of a long-standing business relationship that recently went sour.” (Financial Times, "US divided on how to tackle Huawei," 7/29/10)

"Feyzi said sanctions haven’t stopped IT providers from selling to Iran as contracts for equipment such as switches and transmission and radio systems show. Companies including Siemens, Nokia , Eriksson, Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco Systems, Telaps, NEC, ZTE, Huawei Technologies Co and Wuhan Research Institute have all supplied the Islamic republic. Feyzi said TCI was focusing on buying equipment and technology that isn’t considered dual-use or 'problematic' due to the sanctions." (Gulf Times. "Iran telecom firm to offer '50% stake by March'", 1/12/09)

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"Shenzen-headquartered telecom equipment manufacturer, ZTE Corporation, exhibited its technologies and solutions in the fields of wireless networking, optimization of networks, broadband data networks, multimedia communications, optical transmission and switching systems at the Iran Telecom-infotech 2001 exhibition held on Oct 1-4 in Tehran, Iran. ZTE considers Iran to be one of its most important export markets. The Company set up a branch office in Tehran in the year 2000." (World IT Report. "China's ZTE seeks more cooperation opportunities in Iran," 4/8/03)

"Iranian and Chinese officials will sign a $2 billion agreement for the construction of a dam and a power plant in Iran's western province of Lorestan, Press TV reported. The agreement will be signed between Sinohydro Corp., China's largest water projects developer, and Iran's Farab, the state-run news channel said, citing Mohammad Reza Rezazadeh, the managing director of Iran's Water and Power Resources Development Co. The contract will be completed this week and operations are to start in the next Iranian calendar year, which starts on March 21, according to the report, published on Press TV's website today." (Bloomberg News, "Chinese to Build $2 Billion Iran Dam, Power Plant, Press TV says," 3/14/11)

"China International United Petroleum & Chemicals Co., Ltd. (UNIPEC), a wholly owned affiliate to China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec.), is China's largest oil trading company." (Company website)

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"Open sources reported that Sinopec's trading arm Unipec sold gasoline to Iran in 2010." U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June," September 3, 2010)

ChinaOil "is jointly owned by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and Sinochem Corporation. Managed and operated by CNPC, its activities cover all the regions in the world. Chinaoil is licensed to import and export crude oil and refined products, and licensed to conduct futures contract transactions of crude oil and refined products both domestically and internationally. It is also the entity designated by CNPC to source crude oil and market refined products overseas for refineries under CNPC, and procure refined products from international market to meet domestic demand." (Company website)

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"Open sources reported that ChinaOil sold gasoline to Iran in 2010." (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Report: "Firms Reported in Open Sources to Have Sold Iran Refined Petroleum Products between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010," 9/3/10)

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"But while others back out, Chinaoil has sold a total of about 600,000 barrels worth around $55 million to the Islamic Republic. The cargoes were Chinaoil's first direct sales to Iran since at least January 2009, according to Reuters data. Chinese firms have previously sold through intermediaries, traders said. 'Prior to this there was some third-party trades going on, but this was a direct sell,' a trader said. Chinaoil is the trading unit for China's top energy group China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC), which is the parent of U.S. and Hong Kong-listed PetroChina (0857.HK) (PTR.N). A CNPC spokesman was unable to comment on the sales." (Reuters, "Exclusive: China's top oil firms sell gasoline to Iran-trade," 4/14/10)

XCMG is China’s largest construction equipment manufacturing conglomerate, and the world’s 6th largest crane manufacturer as of 2007.  

The full line of XCMG equipment is made available for purchase in Iran through exclusive dealer Rahdar Sanat Machine Co. Iran is specifically mentioned as an export destination on XCMG’s website

Zoomlion is a Chinese construction manufacturer specializing in cranes. As of 2007, it was the world’s 11th largest crane manufacturer. Zoomlion has nearly 20,000 employees and operates out of nine industrial parks, one of which is in Milan, Italy.

 Zoomlion advertises its business with Iran on the front page of its website. A June 2010 company newsletter trumpets its sale to Iran of twelve tower cranes including a TC7035B-16, “the largest tower crane that had been exported to Iran.” The newsletter states that “By far, the tower cranes from Zoomlion have made up the main part of the total market shares of Iran.”

The Ports & Maritime Organization lists WHL as operating in Iranian ports.