UANI Calls on Germany's KROHNE to Cease All Iran Business Activities

New York, NY - On Wednesday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on German industrial manufacturer KROHNE Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG (KROHNE) to end its business in Iran.

 

KROHNE conducts business in Iran's petrochemical and industrial sectors through a liaison office in Tehran. KRONE's business includes the supply of advanced metering equipment and other components the regime uses to maintain its oil production, the proceeds of which fund its nuclear weapons program.

 

KROHNE also supplies tanker components to the regime for its new Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) construction. These vessels, built in shipyards owned by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), are being constructed for Iran to skirt international sanctions and maintain its oil trade.

 

In a letter sent to KROHNE's CEOs, Michael Dubbick and Stephan Neuberger, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote:

 

... Specifically, UANI is concerned that KROHNE's apparent direct presence in Iran supports the regime's petrochemical production, and also enables the provision of technology and precision petrochemical machinery for Iran's new tanker construction. KROHNE's Iran business activities undermine U.S., EU, and UN sanctions as well as the global effort by responsible non-governmental actors to isolate Iran and degrade the regime's ability to continue its illicit nuclear proliferation activities, maintain its floundering crude oil exports and provide support for its proxies and allies in the region. Accordingly, UANI calls on KROHNE to immediately cease all Iran business activities.

 

KROHNE conducts extensive business in Iran's petrochemical and industrial sectors through the KROHNE liaison office in Tehran. Such business includes the supply of advanced metering equipment and other components vital to the regime's efforts to maintain its oil production, the proceeds of which directly fund its illicit activities, including its nuclear weapons program. Further, despite the efforts of the international community to limit the regime's petrochemical revenues, KROHNE appears to be actively profiting from its supply of advanced petrochemical technologies to Iran. For example, KROHNE attended the 2012 Iran Oil Show, and advertised KROHNE products to key members of the Iranian regime.

 

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Despite these positive developments, a few irresponsible entities continue to provide valuable expertise, services and investment to the Iranian regime. For example, KROHNE supplies vital tanker components to the regime for its new Very Large Crude Carrier ("VLCC") construction. The vessels, built in shipyards owned by the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation ("CSIC") and the China State Shipbuilding Corporation ("CSSC"), will expand the NITC's carriage and storage capacity by up to 24 million barrels. As you may know, the NITC and Iranian regime utilize ship-to-ship ("STS") transfers and other illicit schemes in order to maintain oil exports. These STS transfer schemes are dependent on the precision tank monitoring and flow control systems such as those supplied by KROHNE for use in Iran's latest and most capable carriers. Specifically, KROHNE subsidiary KROHNE Skarpenord touted a "massive" order for "extensive" tank monitoring systems for the NITC's 12 new VLCCs. KROHNE's contract includes the provision of over 1500 advanced subsystems that will support crucial capabilities relied upon by the NITC for its illicit oil shipment schemes in circumvention of international sanctions. Moreover, the Iranian regime's seaborne export capacity is currently limited by restrictions on the provision of technical expertise and tanker replacement parts to Iran, as well as by the age of the vessels in the NITC's fleet. KROHNE's work with the CSIC and CSSC supports the construction of VLCCs for the NITC fleet and will greatly assist the regime in overcoming such limitations. Put simply, KROHNE is assisting the Iranian regime's development of its most lucrative economic sector, the revenues from which go directly to fund the regime's nefarious activities, including its nuclear program.

 

KROHNE should be aware of EU legislation that sanctions activities carried out in support of Iran's construction of new tankers. In October, the EU passed Council Decision 2012/635/CFSP, officially sanctioning the NITC and prohibiting " the construction or the participation in the construction of new oil tankers for Iran..." in addition to prohibiting the provision of "...technical assistance or financing or financial assistance to the construction of new oil tankers for Iran..." KROHNE's involvement in the construction of VLCCs for Iran may violate these sanctions measures. ...

 

UANI's "Germany Campaign" highlights the extensive Iran business activities of German businesses, firms and entities. German businesses are bolstering the Iranian economy and expanding Iranian industrial capacity at a time when the international community is working to economically isolate the Iranian regime.

 

UANI has requested a reply from KROHNE by April 11, 2013.

 

Click here to read UANI's full letter to KROHNE.

Click here to learn more about UANI's Germany Campaign.

 

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