UANI Applauds Commerce Department Action Against Chinese Telecom Giant ZTE for Illicit Iran Business

March 7, 2016

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March 7, 2016
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UANI Applauds Commerce Department Action Against Chinese Telecom Giant ZTE for Illicit Iran Business

New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) today applauded the decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce to place export restrictions on Chinese telecom giant ZTE for violating U.S. export controls on Iran.

UANI CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace said:

ZTE has been a longstanding provider of surveillance technology to the Iranian regime. Since 2012, UANI has been publicly calling for ZTE to end all of its business activities in Iran. We commend the Department of Commerce for taking this important action and imposing export restrictions on ZTE for its alleged activities that violated U.S. export controls. This action sends the message that the United States will not stand idly by while foreign businesses provide technology and services that facilitate the Iranian regime's repression of dissent. These export restrictions further serve as a timely reminder of the serious legal, political, financial, and reputational risks that companies face in doing business in Iran, something prudent company leaders would do well to avoid.

UANI launched its "Tech & Telecom Campaign" in 2011 to highlight the practices of international firms that provide the Iranian regime with sensitive technology and telecommunications equipment used to restrict and monitor internet and cellphone services.

In December 2011, Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei voluntarily scaled back its business in Iran following extensive discussions with UANI--the first time that a major Chinese business had done so.

Click here to read the full text of UANI's March 26, 2012 letter to ZTE.
Click here to learn more about UANI's Tech & Telecom Campaign.

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