UANI Calls on France's Renault to Pull Out of Iran, or Be Sanctioned Under U.S. Law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 17, 2013  Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com  Phone: (212) 554-3296   UANI Calls on France's Renault to Pull Out of Iran, or Be Sanctioned Under U.S. Law New York, NY - On Wednesday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on France's Renault S.A. to immediately end its business in Iran, or face penalties under recently-enacted U.S. sanctions. Renault and its Romanian subsidiary Automobile Dacia S.A. are partnered with Iranian regime-controlled auto manufacturers to produce Renault and Dacia vehicles in Iran. The joint venture Renault Pars is 51% owned by Renault, with the remaining 49% controlled by the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO) and its subsidiaries Iran Khodro and Saipa. This business in Iran appears to violate new U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian auto manufacturing. On July 1, 2013 President Obama's Executive Order 13645 went into effect, authorizing the imposition of sanctions on entities "knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with the automotive sector of Iran." Today, UANI is calling on Renault to pull out of Iran, and has informed U.S. lawmakers of Renault and Dacia's sanctionable activities. In a letter to Renault Chairman & CEO Carlos Ghosn, UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote: ... [W]hile other responsible companies have curtailed or ended their business in Iran's automotive sector, Renault and Dacia have apparently expanded their activities, producing over 100,000 of their vehicles for the Iranian market in 2012 alone. Production of the Dacia Logan, sold in Iran as the Renault Tondar 90, and the Renault Mégane, has also reportedly continued in Iran unabated through 2013. Additionally, at the close of May 2013, Renault Pars Managing Director Pars Peiman Kargar announced the selection of Iran as Renault's industrial agent in the Middle East. In the announcement Mr. Kargar stated that "Renault has been and will remain in Iran despite all problems in trading, because it has chosen Iran as its strategic partner based on a fundamental and strategic decision." ...                 Renault's clear and well-documented business partnership with Iranian automakers and involvement in Iran's auto industry appears to violate new U.S. sanctions targeting Iranian auto manufacturing. Specifically, President Barack Obama's Executive Order 13645 of June 3, 2013 authorizes the imposition of sanctions on entities "knowingly engaged in a significant transaction for the sale, supply, or transfer to Iran of significant goods or services used in connection with the automotive sector of Iran." This order became "effective" on July 1, 2013. Renault's ongoing supply to Iran of the components, designs, technologies and manufacturing techniques necessary to manufacture Renault and Dacia vehicles in Iran appears to constitute sanctionable activity under E.O. 13645. Accordingly, please inform UANI of what steps Renault has taken to cease its Iran business activities and avoid running afoul of U.S. sanctions. ... UANI's Auto Campaign identifies foreign automotive companies doing business in Iran and working with Iranian regime-owned entities. Since launching the campaign in March 2012, UANI has announced the withdrawals of Hyundai, Fiat, Maserati, Lamborghini, Porsche and Kia. UANI has been calling on Renault to end its business in Iran since April 2012. UANI has requested a response from Renault by July 22, 2013. Click here to read UANI's full July 16, 2013 letter to Renault.   Click here to read UANI's April 4, 2012 letter to Renault. Click here to send a message to Renault. Click here to read the Daily Caller Op-Ed by UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, and Congressman Tim Griffin: "The US can do more to pressure auto companies to sever ties with Iran." Click here to visit UANI's Auto Campaign page. Click here to read UANI's DRIVE Act legislation.   ###    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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