UANI Calls on Obama Administration to Recall Sanctions Waiver Granted to South Korea

August 8, 2012

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2012
Contact: Nathan Carleton, [email protected]
Phone: (212) 554-3296  

UANI Calls on Obama Administration to Recall Sanctions Waiver Granted to South Korea

New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, issued the following statement Wednesday regarding reports that South Korea plans to restart its imports of Iranian oil, and that its refiners SK Energy and Hyundai Oilbank are in direct talks with the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) to have it deliver Iranian crude:

We are disappointed to learn that South Korea plans to restart its imports of Iranian oil, and concerned that South Korean refiners are negotiating with the NITC, a sanctioned Iranian regime entity, to deliver this oil. By resuming its oil trade with Iran to recent levels, South Korea will be enabling the Iranian regime to reap many millions in additional revenue per month.

The Obama administration must now consider recalling or cancelling the waiver it recently granted South Korea that spared it from sanctions. The very point of sanctions and waivers is to deny the Iranian regime oil revenues until it changes course, and South Korea's recent actions clearly conflict with that goal.

This situation exemplifies the larger problem of South Korean leaders being insufficiently willing to contribute to the international movement to isolate Iran. South Korean companies like LG and Hyundai Heavy Industries continue to do lucrative and dangerous business in Iran, while the Korean Register of Shipping stands as one of the only shipping services in the world that continues to certify Iranian vessels. South Korea should not allow its companies to so brazenly help Iran circumvent international sanctions.

South Korea's leaders must grasp the seriousness of the threat Iran poses to international security, and act as a responsible member of the international community should.

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