UANI Asks Peugeot to Clarify Business in Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 12, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Asks Peugeot to Clarify Business in Iran New York, NY - On Thursday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen (Peugeot) to clarify its business in Iran, given conflicting statements made by Peugeot and General Motors (GM) officials regarding Peugeot's Iran business. In previous letters to Peugeot and its new U.S. partner GM, UANI explained its concerns with Peugeot's longstanding and lucrative partnership with entities connected to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and Peugeot's status as the leading foreign auto brand produced and sold in Iran. UANI also raised the issue of whether Peugeot and GM's new partnership violates U.S. sanctions law. In response to UANI, spokespeople for Peugeot and GM told Agence France-Press that Peugeot had recently halted its business in Iran, but also stated that "it is a decision taken month by month." Given the lack of clarity regarding Peugeot's current and future business in Iran, UANI has contacted Peugeot again to ask that it immediately confirm that it is not engaged and will not engage, directly or indirectly, in any business in Iran until Iran ends its pursuit of nuclear weapons and sponsorship of terrorists. In an April 10 letter to Peugeot Chairman of the Managing Board Philippe Varin, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote: On Wednesday, March 28, 2012, GM spokesperson Greg Martin stated that Peugeot has "halted its business dealings with Iran." ... At the same time, a Peugeot spokesman offered the contradictory position that while Peugeot has halted shipments to Iran for March and April, this decision to cease business in Iran is still being taken "month by month." ... **** ... [I]t is unclear whether Peugeot's stated decision to suspend "production and shipment of material into Iran" means that Peugeot has ended its extensive cooperation with Iran Khodro Group ("IKCO") and specifically whether Peugeot has ended its support of IKCO's 'national car' projects. As Iran's largest auto manufacturer, IKCO was selected by the Iranian regime to produce 'national cars' as part of a broader effort by the regime to acquire foreign technology and expertise in order to develop its domestic automobile industry and enter the lucrative automobile export market. ... **** Accordingly, UANI calls on Peugeot to immediately confirm that it is not, directly or through legal entities that it controls or through foreign subsidiaries, affiliates or beneficial ownership interests, engaged in any business or providing any goods or services in Iran. Please also confirm that Peugeot is not engaged in the implementation of any agreement with any Iranian entity or governmental authority including IKCO, and that Peugeot no longer provides platforms or technology to IKCO for the production of Samand, Runna, Dena and/or any other 'national car' model. In addition, please explain what steps Peugeot has taken to ensure that Peugeot platforms and technology are no longer utilized by IKCO. UANI also calls on Peugeot to confirm that it has no intention to conduct business in Iran in the future. UANI has requested a reply from Peugeot by April 16, 2012. Click here to read the full text of UANI's letter to Peugeot. Click here to read UANI's March 9 letter to Peugeot. Click here to send a message to Peugeot and GM. ### United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a program of the American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran, Inc., a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran should concern every American and be unacceptable to the community of nations. Since 1979 the Iranian regime, most recently under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's leadership, has demonstrated increasingly threatening behavior and rhetoric toward the US and the West. Iran continues to defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the United Nations in their attempts to monitor its nuclear activities. A number of Arab states have warned that Iran's development of nuclear weapons poses a threat to Middle East stability and could provoke a regional nuclear arms race. In short, the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran is a danger to world peace. United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) is a non-partisan, broad-based coalition that is united in a commitment to prevent Iran from fulfilling its ambition to become a regional super-power possessing nuclear weapons. UANI is an issue-based coalition in which each coalition member will have its own interests as well as the collective goal of advancing an Iran free of nuclear weapons. The Objectives of United Against a Nuclear Iran Inform the public about the nature of the Iranian regime, including its desire and intent to possess nuclear weapons, as well as Iran's role as a state sponsor of global terrorism, and a major violator of human rights at home and abroad; Heighten awareness nationally and internationally about the danger that a nuclear armed Iran poses to the region and the world; Mobilize public support, utilize media outreach, and persuade our elected leaders to voice a robust and united American opposition to a nuclear Iran; Lay the groundwork for effective US policies in coordination with European and other allies; Persuade the regime in Tehran to desist from its quest for nuclear weapons, while striving not to punish the Iranian people, and; Promote efforts that focus on vigorous national and international, social, economic, political and diplomatic measures. UANI is led by an advisory board of outstanding national figures representing all sectors of our country.

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