France

LVMH, a luxury goods conglomerate based in Paris, is the parent company of multiple smaller luxury goods companies who maintain retailers in Iran. Such subsidiaries include Bulgari, Chaumet, Guerlain, Tag Heuer, and Zenith.

Chaumet is a subsidary of luxury conglomerate LVMH (Moet Hennessy•Louis Vuitton)

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The French high-end jewelry manufacturer lists an authorized retailer in Tehran. (Chaumet Website, "Points of Sale," input: "Iran")

Cartier is a subsidiary of the Swiss luxury goods holding company Richemont.

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The French jeweler and watch manufacturer lists two authorized retailers in Tehran. (Cartier Website, "Find a Boutique," input: "Iran")

Tehran Novotel Hotel (an Iranian hotel) is "cooperating" with the French Accor hotels Group.

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"Accor opened an Ibis and a Novotel hotel in Tehran in 2015, becoming the first international hotel chain in the country since the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s. Now that the JCPOA has seemingly fallen apart, Accor declined to comment on whether its hotels would stay open despite Washington’s sanctions, or if its outlook on the country had changed." (CNBC, "Iran had big plans for its tourism industry, then the US reintroduced economic sanctions," 9/19/2018). 

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Both the Accor hotels, Novotel Tehran Imam Khomeini and the Ibis Khomeini International are fully operational.

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The announcement from Accor to manage two properties in Iran came towards the end of 2015, and operations have kicked off “positively” according to Christophe Landais who is heading the development of AccorHotels in Iran.

“We soft opened the Ibis and Novotel hotels in January 2016, and we still have some work to be completed. Out of 500, we have about 300 rooms to be completed. We have also the spas for the ladies and one for the men. Yes, it is taking some time, but hopefully within the next few weeks it should be ready,” Landais told Hotelier Middle Eastexclusively.

“Delays are never expected as such, but especially the spas required a lot of work, which we expected to be slightly delayed but not to this extent... We are about four weeks behind, but it’s not a big deal,” Landais added. (May 15, 2016)

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"Christophe Landais, the chief executive of French multinational hotel operator Accor Hotels Group, says the company is pursuing a special mission in Iran and plans to implement various projects around the country within the next 10 years and perhaps build 100 hotels during this time. In an interview with ISNA, as translated by IFP, Landais said the Accor Hotels is serious in making investment in Iran." (Iran Front Page, "Giant French Company to Build 100 Hotels in Iran," 10/14/2016).

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"All economic activities related to... tourism will enjoy 100 percent tax holidays between five to 13 years depending on the region," deputy economy minister Mohammad Khazaei told hoteliers from 18 countries who had gathered in Tehran, many from Europe... "We are working actively on 10 to 15 projects in Iran," Christophe Landais, chief operating officer for France's Accor Hotels in Iran, told AFP... " (AFP, "Iran offers hotel tax breaks in bid to boost tourism," 10/3/2016).

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AccorHotels Group as one of the most prestigious hotel groups, and 1st Hotel Operator across the world has entered into a memorandum of understanding with HEGTAinTehranHOMA Hotel.

This memorandum of understanding signed after several rounds of talks, includes long-term cooperation to develop hotel, to renovate existing HOMA hotelsto the highest standards, to promote the newly rebranded HOMAhotels across the world as well as a special focus on training and humanresourcesdevelopment. (March 8, 2016)

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"Executives are looking to other markets to diversify its offering. A 3 July deal to open 50 managed hotels in Angola is one example, while another, mentioned during a 30 July news conference outlining the French company’s H1 2015 earnings, is Iran, where CEO Sébastien Bazin said AccorHotels had 'true ambition.' Bazin said talks are in progress to open two hotels under the Novotel and Ibis brands in Tehran. Iran has been in talks with the United States, European Union and other allies concerning its nuclear program and to begin closer bilateral relations." (Hotel News Now, "Accor drives performance via diversification," 7/31/15)

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"French operator AccorHotels is in advanced negotiations for two properties in Tehran under its ibis and Novotel brands. Christophe Landais, managing director Accor Middle East told Hotelier: 'We expect the recent agreements to potentially open up tremendous opportunities and rapid growth for the hospitality and tourism industry in Iran. AccorHotels is well positioned to play a leading role in the development of the hospitality and tourism industry throughout Iran. AccorHotels does not at present have any management agreements in place in Iran, however we are considering a number of potential opportunities across a broad range of segments.'" (Hotelier, "Hoteliers enter Iran race following nuclear deal," 7/16/15)

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"This year’s opening of a four-star Axis hotel in Tehran under the management of France’s Accor, with a five star Axis Prime set to open soon nearby, is an indication of how fast things could change. Not since the Islamic revolution has a western company managed a hotel in Iran... Still it is not clear how Accor — Europe’s largest hotel group by number of rooms — secured the contract given continued sanctions. While the sanctions do not directly target the tourism industry, they prohibit the transfer of money to or from Iran unless for basic commodities or medicine... Accor is now poised to benefit from the doors opening to one of the world’s biggest untapped tourist destinations, home to huge and historic attractions such as Persepolis and Isfahan. Rumours are rife that other French groups are negotiating with Iran about the construction and management of hotels. Bouygues, the French construction, media and telecoms conglomerate, declined to comment, as did the UAE-based Rotana hotel management group, understood to be planning hotels in Tehran and the holy city of Mashhad." (Financial Times, "Hotel groups eye Iran tourism potential as santions deal nears", 6/22/15)

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“Foreign visitors to Iran are the most visible effect of President Hassan Rouhani’s drive to mend ties with the U.S. and Europe, an influx that one his deputies said generated as much as $5 billion for the sanctions-hit economy over the past year. For the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, international hotel chains are now plotting a return, while European airlines are adding or restoring links with Tehran…France’s Accor SA was aiming to build a hotel near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport, according to Rahmani-Movahed, though the Paris-based company said that was premature.” (Bloomberg, “Iran Hotels Fill Up as Rouhani’s Rapprochement Lifts Tourism,” 5/21/14)

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"UANI also called on the Novotel Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont hotel of the Accor Hotels Group and the Hotel Praia Ipanema to reverse their decision to host Iran's delegation [during this week's meeting of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] . . . Significantly, Accor North America operates more than 1,100 properties in the U.S. and Canada, including those of its brand chains Motel 6, Studio 6, Sofitel and Novotel. Accor has also received extensive lodging business from the U.S. government-in particular the U.S. Department of Defense." (UANI Press Release, "UANI Calls on Royal Tulip Hotel, Golden Tulip Hospitality, Accor Hotels to Reverse Decision to Host Iran's Ahmadinejad and Delegation this Week in Brazil," 6/19/12).

"On Tuesday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Brazil's Royal Tulip Rio de Janeiro Hotel (Royal Tulip), of France-based Golden Tulip Hospitality Group (Golden Tulip), to reverse its decision to host Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his delegation during this week's meeting of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil . . . In a letter sent June 18, 2012 to Hans Kennedie, President & CEO of Golden Tulip, and George Durante, General Manager of the Royal Tulip, UANI Executive Director, David Ibsen, wrote: '. . . Ahmadinejad's trip also comes as the international community is working to economically and diplomatically isolate the Iranian regime for its illicit nuclear program, egregious human rights violations and state sponsorship of terrorism. The Golden Tulip is therefore exposing itself to serious reputational and financial harm by hosting the Iranian regime.'" (UANI Press Release, "UANI Calls on Royal Tulip Hotel, Golden Tulip Hospitality, Accor Hotels to Reverse Decision to Host Iran's Ahmadinejad and Delegation this Week in Brazil," 6/19/12)

Lists a local contact in Iran.

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Oct 2017 - The French automotive group has also forged a joint production agreement with SAIPA through its Citroen brand. Unveiled in July 2016, the deal obliges the Paris-based carmaker to invest €300 million over the next five years for the development and production of three Citroen models in the country.

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"PSA on Wednes­day reported a rise in car unit sales for 2016 thanks to business in Iran which the carmaker is including again after the end to sanctions against Tehran. With the integration of sales from joint ventures and licence agreements in Iran, Peugeot booked a rise in deliveries of 5.6pc. On a comparable basis, without the integration of the Ira­nian contribution, the figure dropped by 2pc from 2015. The group’ s three brands Peugeot, Citroen and DS, sold just over three million cars last year, of which 233,000 were produced under licence in Iran. In 2015, the group sold 2.9 million units. PSA’ s post-sanctions return to Iran resulted in joint ventures with local companies Iran Khodro and Saipa, and a partnership with Arian Motor." (AFP, "Iran car sales keep PSA on growth track," 1/11/2017).

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"French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has reached a deal with Iran’s biggest carmaker to open a plant producing 200,000 vehicles a year, renewing an old partnership with Iran Khodro Co following the lifting of international sanctions. The two companies showcased five models on Wednesday to be produced by IKAP, a joint venture first announced in January during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani." (AP, "PSA Group reaches Deal to Make 200,000 Cars a Year in Iran," 10/5/2016).

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"PSA Peugeot Citroen said it plans to sell more than 150,000 Peugeot vehicles in Iran in the second half of this year as the French carmaker seeks to reclaim the leading position it once enjoyed in the country. Peugeot, the biggest-selling European automaker in pre-sanctions Iran, suspended sales in 2012 when an international boycott due to Iran's nuclear program was extended to cars. Most sanctions were lifted in January... Iran's Minister for Industry Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh will visit PSA's Velizy research center near Paris on Thursday to discuss cooperation with the carmaker, CEO Carlos Tavares told reporters at the Paris autoshow. "This is the kick-off for the implementation of the deals we have signed," said Tavares, who will travel to Iran next week. Tavares wants to sell 300,000 Peugeot vehicles in Iran in 2017." (Reuters, "Peugeot targets $150,000 vehicle sales in Iran in second half," 9/29/2016).

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The Wall Street Journal reported that Peugeot “signed a deal with an Iranian company to make Citroëns in Iran … [and] plans to invest more than €300 million ($330.1 million) in industrial capacity and research and development at the site over the next five years.” (The Wall Street Journal, “Peugeot Signs Joint Venture to Make Citroëns in Iran,” 7/21/2016).

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"Citroen cars will roll off an assembly line in Iran starting from 2018, under a deal between French automaker PSA and Iran's SAIPA finalised on Thursday, PSA said. The joint venture, in which PSA and SAIPA will each have a 50 percent stake, will see cars produced at a plant in Kashan, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) south of the capital Tehran... The Kashan plant is used to produce Citroen cars but has not made one since the start of the decade. The two firms plan to invest "more than 300 million euros ($335 million) in manufacturing and R&D capacity over the next five years," PSA said in a statement. The move follows PSA's 400-million-euro deal in June with Khodro to build 200,000 Peugeot vehicles a year in Iran by 2018." (AFP, "Citroen maker seals Iran joint-venture deal," 10/6/2016).

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“Iranian car manufacturing company Saipa is in talks with France's PSA Peugeot Citroen and Renault, Germany's Mercedes-Benz, and Sweden's Volvo to finalize deals on joint production of cars in Iran, Saipa officials announced on Tuesday.  Saipa CEO Saeid Madani announced that the company is in negotiations with PSA Peugeot Citroen to sign a deal, but at the same time noted that any deal would depend on the ongoing talks between Tehran and world powers over the country's peaceful nuclear energy program. He made the remarks on the sidelines of a ceremony held here in Tehran to unveil the production line of a new Volvo truck in Saipa Diesel factory.” (Tasnim, Iran's Saipa Negotiating with European Automakers, 5/12/15)

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"Citroen C5...has already received the necessary permit from the Institute of Standards and Industrail Research of Iran (ISIRI) as well as the Department of the Environment to enter the Iranian market." (Zawya. "Iran: Citroen C5 Import From Sept." 6/19/2006)

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"Citroen and SAIPA, the Iranian carmaker have signed a contract for the production of Citroen Xantia in the SAIPA factories in Iran for the Iranian car market, making SAIPA part of Citroen's strategy for international development in central Asia." (AutoWeb. "Citroen to Produce the Xantia in Iran." 3/23/2000)

"French oil giant Total announced it had dropped a multi-billion-euro gas project and Air Liquide has also pulled out." (RFI, "Air France stops flights to Iran," 8/24/2018).

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French industrial gas group Air Liquide says it will "cease all commercial activity" in the country although a spokesperson says the firm has "no investments" there. (“French firms big losers in Trump’s new Iranian sanctions game,” Agence France-Presse (France), August 5, 2018.)

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The Petrochemical Research and Technology Company of Iran finalized an agreement with France's Air Liquide Engineering and Construction Company on transferring state-of-the-art technology and granting much-needed licenses to convert methanol to propylene under PARS MTP brand. (March 10, 2018).

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Air Liquide resumed talks on MTP licensing after the lifting of sanctions in January 2016. Petrochemical Research and Technology company, the research and development arm of NPC, signed a memorandum of understanding with Air Liquide last week on the transfer of state of the art methanol to propylene technology. The agreement is aimed at building an MTP unit in Iran with an annual production capacity of 500,000 tons under the license of Air Liquide.  (August 1, 2017)

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"A new round of talks between Iran and UOP LLC Petroleum industry company of America has kicked off over investment and supply of new technologies. Association of Petrochemical Industry Corporations (APIC) announced that a fresh round of negotiations has begun between Iran’s petrochemical officials and three major American and European petrochemical companies with the main axes of talks being construction of new polymer units, knowledge and technology transfer as well as issuance of license for new petchem plans. On the sidelines of K Trade Fair 2016, the world's premier fair for the plastics and rubber industry in Germany, high ranking officials of Iran’s petrochemical industry held meetings with authorities of France’s Total and Air Liquide as well as America’s UOP, formerly known as Universal Oil Products." (Mehr News, "US petchem giant ready to return to Iran," 10/24/2016).

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"The six companies that were divested, in accordance with a new state law are: L'Air Liquide, Daelim Industrial Co., Gazprom Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd, Sasol and Siemens Ltd.." (Reuters, "Massachusetts pension fund divests of companies with Iran ties," 1/4/2012)

Bureau Veritas has responsibly withdrawn the class for a total of seven vessels that UANI has brought to their attention. In one reply, Bureau Veritas wrote, “Further to a thorough due diligence process of the ownership and activity of these vessels, it was decided, in line with our procedures, to terminate contracts binding us to these vessels even in the absence of any OFAC listing.”

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"Bureau Veritas to Offer Automotive Services in Iran." (9/9/2017)

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Stated on its company website: “Established in Iran since 1976, Bureau Veritas is providing services aiming at reducing risks and improving performance. With more than 150 experts in a variety of disciplines, Bureau Veritas Iran offers an extensive range of technical services and innovative solutions delivered to our Clients on a day-to-day with our global expertise and the necessary domestic knowledge. Our role is to help you manage your Quality, Health, Safety and Environmental challenges and provide an independent confirmation of compliance with relevant standards and regulations. Bureau Veritas Iran is part of our global network and benefits from the direct support of more than 3,000 experts present in the Middle East region.”

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"Under pressure from lobbying groups campaigning against Iran's nuclear program, some specialized companies that supply the safety certificates required for ships to dock at foreign ports are terminating their dealings with Iran... One by one over the last few months, European classification societies such as Norway's Det Norske Veritas, the U.K.'s Lloyd's Register and France's Bureau Veritas have terminated contracts to survey Iranian ships, including ships for the country's largest tanker company, NITC." (Wall Street Journal, "Iran's Oil Ships Sail Into Troubled Waters," 6/24/12)

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"France's Bureau Veritas, which verifies the safety and environmental standards of ships, has stopped its marine work in Iran, the classification society said in a new setback for Tehran as it faces growing pressure from Western sanctions... 'The only marine-related activity that Bureau Veritas has ever exercised onboard vessels in Iran or owned by Iranian companies is classification surveys, which are only dealing with safety and maritime pollution prevention, that is, for safety and protection of third-parties' interests,' it said in a statement on Thursday. 'Nonetheless...Bureau Veritas has taken the decision to cease all marine activities on Iranian-owned vessels with a view to alleviating any type of confusion.'... U.S.-based United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which has been among pressure groups opposed to the Islamic Republic's nuclear ambitions, said it had urged Bureau Veritas to stop providing cover for Iranian vessels... In a letter addressed to UANI this week, Bureau Veritas said that following discussions with French government authorities it had decided to 'disengage completely' from all marine activities related to Iran... Bureau Veritas added that it given notice to Iran's flag authority at the end of 2011 of the termination of the agreement 'of delegation of statutory inspection and certification surveys for Iranian registered vessels'... 'Bureau Veritas has also taken the same decision with respect to the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) for all their vessels and has decided to cease all marine activities in respect of all other known Iranian shipping companies' vessels,' it said in the letter... Pressure group UANI, which had previously said Bureau Veritas's certification activities were in violation of EU sanctions, welcomed the move... 'We accept Bureau Veritas's pledge to end all of its marine activities related to Iran,' said UANI chief executive Mark Wallace, a former U.S. ambassador." (Reuters, "Ship classifier Bureau Veritas halts Iran marine work," 6/7/2012)

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"However, other firms — notably Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd — continue to provide services to Iranian and other vessels working in Iranian ports or waters." (Washington Post, "Congress sees shipping-certification firms as tool to tighten Iran noose" 12/5/2011)

Eutelsat website lists a satelite, EUTELSAT 7B, that provides TV services in Iran.

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"Peyman Jebeli, IRIB's [Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting] Vice President of Overseas Operations, said al-Kawthar, Iran's Arabic-language TV channel, was dropped by Eutelsat after five years of "strategic" operations, because it was unable to satisfy satellite expenses. Press TV and al-Alam are other TV channels that face shutdowns." (Diyaruna, "IRIB satellite TVs face shutdown amid US maximum pressure campaign," 7/3/20).

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"Paris Ambassador to Tehran François Sénémaud announced that the French-based satellite provider, Eutelsat, plans to win [a] contract with Iran to build a satellite for the country. "The Eutelsat company seeks cooperation with the Iranian Space Agency and is preparing a draft of its proposals to participate in the tender for build a satellite," Sénémaud said in a meeting with Iranian Communications and Information Technology Minister Mahmoud Vaezi in Tehran on Saturday. He said that Eutelsat and the French telecommunications operator, Orange, are also in talks with the Iranian firms to increase mutual cooperation." (Fars News, "French Envoy: Eutelsat Eager to Send Offer to Iran Satellite Tender," 10/26/2016).

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“Manoto TV, a commercial Persian-language TV channel, is launching on the Eutelsat 7B satellite.  The channel has signed a capacity agreement with Eutelsat Communications for exclusive broadcasting in HD from Eutelsat 7B, to expand its audience in Iran and the Middle East.”  (Broadband TV News, “Manoto TV choses Eutelsat 7B for HD broadcast,” 6/16/2016). 

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"The U.S. gave European satellite companies Intelsat SA and Eutelsat Communications SA another six months to win back Iran's business lost after lawmakers barred them from transmitting Iranian programming... The waiver has also allowed Eutelsat, which says it had its satellites jammed by Iranian authorities as far back as 2009, to again beam IRIB broadcasts. A spokeswoman said it wouldn't be feasible for a satellite provider to monitor content for forced confessions or other televised human rights abuses. 'We believe that's the responsibility of regulators,' she said. 'Each party has to do their own job. The main thing for us is to be compliant with the relevant parties.'" (The Wall Street Journal, "Intelsat, Eutelsat Granted New U.S. Waivers," 8/28/2014)

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"Eutelset stopped broadcasting 19 Islamic Republic networks from its Hotbird satellite starting October 15." (Radio Zamaneh, "Russia steps in to broadcast Iranian channels," 11/5/2012)

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"European satellite provider Eutelsat also took Iranian channels off the air last week, saying that the decision was made by the European Union." (Trend, "Intelsat takes Iranian channels off air," 10/22/2012) 

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"Eutelsat Communications SA said it stopped broadcasting the Iranian channels in light of European sanctions approved in March and a French regulatory decision. The move comes a little over a week after Iran escalated the jamming of Eutelsat satellites to censor broadcasts during recent protests over a plunge in the local currency... Though Eutelsat's decision to remove Iran's government-owned channels isn't related to the nuclear standoff, the move serves to isolate the Islamist Republic further... For years, IRIB has rented space on the popular Eutelsat satellite through Arqiva Ltd., a U.K.-based transmission company and middleman. Both companies said Monday they were suspending the Hotbird contract with Iran. Eutelsat is also planning to remove IRIB from other satellites it owns, a spokeswoman for the French company said, and has notified other transmission companies that rent space to IRIB on Eutelsat satellites apart from Hotbird... In explaining their move, Eutelsat also noted that the EU added IRIB Director Ezzatollah Zarghami to its sanctions list in March... Iranian human-rights organizations and opposition activists praised Eutelsat's decision." (The Wall Street Journal, "A Top Satellite Provider Cuts Off Iran State Broadcaster," 10/15/2012)

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"Satellite provider Eutelsat agreed with media services company Arqiva to block the Irib channels as of Monday morning because of 'reinforced EU council sanctions' Eutelsat spokeswoman Vanessa O'Connor said. Irib's access to Eutelsat was via a contract with Arqiva. Eutelsat would not comment on eventual financial consequences of the cutoff. Iran's Press TV said Irib could take legal action against Eutelsat over the cutoff. Irib's chief was among those targeted in a round of EU sanctions against Iran adopted in March, based on what European officials said were human rights violations in its programming, according to Eutelsat... Press TV says it's among the channels cut by the Eutelsat decision. Others include Farsi-language channels for Iranian expatriates and Arabic-language offerings, including the news channel Al-Alam." (Fox News, "European satellite provider cuts off 19 Iranian TV and radio stations because of EU sanctions," 10/15/2012)

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"The BBC, for example, launched its Persian-language channel in 2009 and beamed it from the 'Hotbird' satellite of Paris-based Eutelsat Communications SA, which is a satellite that large numbers of rooftop dishes in Iran are pointed at to receive free Persian channels... Besides Eutelsat, companies it uses include Intelsat SA, Telesat Holdings Inc. and AsiaSat, a Hong Kong-based operator in which General Electric Co. has a stake... Eutelsat, meanwhile, says it has been targeted repeatedly... The chief executive of Eutelsat, Michel de Rosen, said, 'I get pressure from many governments about many channels. Our permanent answer is: We will not do anything about a channel if we do not get a clear order backed by law.' Eutelsat says it did pull Libyan government channels in April after the European Union barred any technical aid to the Gadhafi regime. Later, North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces bombed the Libyan state satellite-television facility, which NATO said was being used to incite attacks on civilians... For 70 years it has had a Persian-language radio station, which is hard to block because it is short-wave; the BBC also has a Persian website, which is blocked in Iran but accessible via circumvention tools. For its TV channel, the BBC rented a frequency on Eutelsat's Hotbird, the most popular satellite in Iran for TV watchers... Because the jamming was causing collateral damage to neighboring channels on Hotbird, the BBC reluctantly agreed to a request from a satellite-space middleman to move to another Eutelsat satellite, called W3A... Eutelsat says it has filed numerous complaints with a U.N. agency that manages outer-space frequencies, the International Telecommunication Union, an arm of which stated in March that the interference 'appeared to be emanating from Iran.'" (The Wall Street Journal, "In Skies Over Iran, a Battle for Control of Satellite TV," 12/27/2011)

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"European satellite companies like Eutelsat, Intelsat and Arqiva provide extensive services to the Iranian state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), including for domestic Iranian radio and television broadcasts, and for Iran's growing list of foreign-language channels, like the English-language PressTV and the Arabic Al-Alam... But Eutelsat also hosts many of the stations whose programming Tehran jams... Over the past two years, during which Iran increased its jamming of Persian-language broadcasts from abroad, Eutelsat and Arqiva have done little to hold the Iranian government accountable... Either company could have contractually required Iran to stop its jamming, which is politically motivated censorship, or refused to carry IRIB. Instead Eutelsat's response was to discontinue broadcasting BBC Persian and VOA Persian on the most accessible and popular satellite, Hotbird6, and to move them to less accessible satellites... Last month, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for Eutelsat to cease service as long as illegal jamming is taking place." (The Wall Street Journal, "Broadcasting Tehran's Repression," 12/9/2011)

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"Iran is facing mounting international protests about its jamming of the BBC's Persian TV service (PTV) after the channel – which has millions of viewers and is hugely popular with opposition supporters – was taken off a satellite owned by Europe's leading operator. The BBC said today it was 'actively supporting' a formal complaint to the International Telecommunication Union, a UN-affiliated body, about "deliberate interference" from Iran. The ITU confirmed it had received representations from regulators in France, home to Eutelsat, owner of the Hotbird 6 satellite, which transmitted PTV until the end of last month... Eutelsat says PTV was removed from Hotbird 6 'in agreement' with the BBC, though sources close to the affair say the operator caved in to commercial and legal pressures from other customers broadcasting on the same transponder. Another Eutelsat satellite, Hotbird 8, provides capacity to Iranian state media channels, including English-language Press TV, which has offices in London. Iranian opposition supporters are accusing satellite companies of 'siding with dictators'. Eutelsat and GlobeCast, a France Télécom subsidiary which leases bandwidth from Eutelsat — and which made the decision to take down PTV — refuse to say publicly that the Iranian government is responsible for the jamming." (BBC News. "BBC joins international protests against Iranian TV interference," 1/14/10)

Operates as a subsidiary of Northern Heavy Industries Group Co. Ltd. 

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“NFM Technologies SA, a mechanical engineering company, designs, develops, manufactures, and supplies mechanical equipment and systems.”

“The company’s products are used in various applications in defense/aeronautics, nuclear, oil/gas, underground work, heavy industry, and major structures markets in the United States and internationally."

“It operates manufacturing plants in Shenyang and Guangzhou, China; and Le Creusot, Bagnols-sur-Cèze, and Lyon, France. As of May 28, 2007, NFM Technologies SA is a subsidiary of Shenyang Heavy Machinery Group Co., Ltd." (Bloomberg Business Week, “NFM Technologies SA – Private Company Information,” 2010).

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“Ranked amongst the most important tunnel-boring machine manufacturers on the world market, NFM Technologies provides its customers with tunneling machines of 4 to more than 15 metres in diameter, suited to all types of geology, acknowledged for their reliability and robustness” (Company website).

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“In September 2007 state-corporation NHI, Northern Heavy Industry Group, purchased a 70% share of French TBM and nuclear equipment manufacturer NFM. Niko Kleuters, previously with NFM's prior owner, WIRTH of Germany, left WIRTH to retain the remaining 30% share in NFM” (TunnelTalk, “China adds CIFA to its European acquisitions,”  September 2008).

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NFM’s website features a technologies representative in Iran. (Company website)

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An article on Iranian tunneling projects lists NFM’s involvement in the Shiraz and Tabriz subway projects, not completed as of 2009 (World Tunneling, “Iranian TBMs continue steady march,” December 23, 2009). 
   
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NFM project in Iran, Shiraz Metro Project (Iran Project website)