UANI

UANI's Initiatives, Campaigns and Accomplishments

Our Initiatives | Iran Disclosure Project | What the Experts are Saying | Press Releases

UANI directs the sole concerted effort dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran and to highlighting the need for sanctions and private economic pressure to address this threat. Since its launch in September 2008, UANI has engaged in a variety of successful and dynamic media campaigns, protests and activities to elevate the profile of the Iranian nuclear issue and effectively harness the energy of the American public to focus pressure on corporations doing business in Iran:

• UANI’s efforts have generated significant media coverage, including in such major news outlets as The New York Times, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Associated Press and many others.
• Launched a campaign calling on the Hilton Manhattan East Hotel and all other New York area venues to refuse to host President Ahmadinejad during the UN General Assembly in September 2010. The Omni Berkshire Hotel was the first venue to declare it would close its doors to Ahmadinejad.
• Launched a campaign calling on Danish shipping giant Maersk and Japanese construction conglomerate Komatsu to comply with U.S. sanctions and end their business in Iran. Maersk and Komatsu both conduct business in Iran that contributes to Iran’s ability to develop its petroleum resources.
• Proposed new regulations for adoption by the SEC requiring companies to fully disclose their Iran business. Such action is necessary not only for investors to make informed decisions about the companies in which they are investing, but also for the U.S. Government to make informed decisions about the companies with which it is contracting. In July, Congressman Ted Deutch introduced the Iran Transparency and Accountability Act, which would require companies to disclose such business.
• Proposed UANI legislation, requiring companies that do business with the U.S. Government to certify that they do not conduct business in Iran, is incorporated into the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA). President Obama signed CISADA into law on July 1, 2010.
• UANI joined the "Responsibility to Prevent" Coalition, and signed the international petition entitled "The Danger of a Nuclear, Genocidal and Rights-Violating Iran: The Responsibility to Prevent Petition."  The petition is endorsed by international law scholars, human rights defenders, experts in genocide, and a distinguished group of Iranian scholars, and the objective of the coalition and the petition is to hold Ahmadinejad's Iran to account for its brutal and illegal actions.
• Launched a campaign calling on Honeywell to cease its sales of security technologies in Iran as well as its participation in projects to develop Iran energy industry. As part of this effort, UANI called on the Pentagon to debar Honeywell from U.S. Government contracts. Honeywell does more business with the U.S. Government ($4.3 billion in 2009 alone) than any other company currently active in Iran.
• In response to UANI’s campaign, KPMG severed ties with its Iranian member firm. Pricewaterhouse-Coopers and Ernst & Young also informed UANI that they have discontinued their business relationships in Iran.  As a result, none of the “Big Four” accounting firms continue to operate in Iran.
• In response to UANI’s campaign, Ingersoll Rand ceased its business in Iran. Ingersoll Rand industrial equipment has been used in Iran’s oil and gas industry. News of the company’s decision was published on the front page of The Wall Street Journal’s business section.
• In response to UANI’s campaign, Caterpillar ceased its business in Iran. UANI called on Caterpillar to end its business in Iran and launched a billboard in Peoria targeting Caterpillar. Caterpillar’s decision and UANI’s role in pressuring Caterpillar was highlighted in a front page story in the Financial Times.
• In response to UANI’s campaign, Huntsman Corporation ceased its business in Iran. UANI had earlier called on Huntsman to explain its sale to Iran of polyurethanes, a dual-use material widely used in defense-related materials, including solid-fuel technology for long-range missiles.
• Launched the Iran Disclosure Project, an initiative to identify publicly-traded companies that have failed to disclose to investors the legal and financial peril associated with their business dealings in Iran. Royal Dutch Shell (RDS), one of Iran’s main energy partners, was the first target of the campaign. RDS has subsequently discontinued gasoline sales to Iran.
• UANI model legislation introduced in the House of Representatives by Representatives Ron Klein (D-FL) and John Mica (R-FL) as H.R. 3922 the Accountability for Business Choices in Iran Act.   The bill requires companies to choose between doing business with Iran and with the U.S. government.
• Launched a successful campaign in September 2009 to pressure New York area venues to refuse to host President Ahmadinejad.  At the urging of UANI supporters, The New York Helmsley Hotel, Gotham Hall, and the Essex House all refused to host President Ahmadinejad.  President Ahmadinejad was effectively quarantined to the InterContinental The Barclay, the one hotel in New York that agreed accommodate the Iranian delegation.
• General Electric became the first company to sign UANI’s Iran Business Declaration, and in doing so affirmed that it does not and will not conduct business in Iran.
• Launched 3 national television, web and print advertisement campaigns. View our television advertisements: ‘Shame,’ ‘Unclenched Fist,’ and ‘Iran's Closed Hand’.
• Launched a petition urging the G20 to use its September 24th meeting in Pittsburgh to take action to prevent a nuclear armed Iran.
• Participated in a protest at Nokia’s flagship store on August 20, 2009 to demand that Nokia stop providing the Iranian regime with technology to spy on Iranians and crackdown on dissent.
• Launched the Intolerance Index on the UANI website, a compilation of human rights violations committed by the Iranian regime. 
• Launched a campaign calling on the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) Board to vote against opening up a lucrative $300 million contract to bidding by Siemens.
• Launched an advocacy campaign targeting New York-area hotels, urging them not to host the Iranian delegation or its events during the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2009.
• Called on Congress to introduce legislation to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not paid to companies doing business in Iran. View UANI's model Iran Business Certification legislation.
• On June 18, 2009, co-hosted an event in Los Angeles at the Museum of Tolerance featuring Ambassador Woolsey, Ambassador Wallace and Rabbi Abraham Cooper. View video of the event.
• Used the IBR Message Center to lead a campaign to demand that Siemens and Nokia stop providing the Iranian regime with technology to spy on Iranians, and crackdown on dissent.
• Launched national television, web and print advertisement campaigns. View our television advertisements: 'Unclenched Fist,' and 'Iran's Closed Hand'.
• Led a media campaign to dissuade executives at JP Morgan Chase from meeting with Iranian Vice President Parvis Davoodi at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York City on June 1, 2009.
• On May 27, UANI and its South Florida local chapter co-sponsored the 'STOP IRAN NOW' Webinar, featuring Ambassador R. James Woolsey and State Senator Ted Deutch (D-FL) 30th District and moderated by Ambassador Mark D. Wallace.
• On February 23, UANI debated Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ambassador Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, on Iranian television.
• Launched 'Valentine's Day initiative' for supporters to send messages to companies like Nestle that operate in Iran – thereby supporting the regime and facilitating its diversion of funds to its nuclear weapons program.
• Launched the Iran Business Registry, a comprehensive database of all American and international corporations that have done and continue to do business in Iran. The IBR is not intended to hurt any legitimate business, but rather to provide Americans with the information necessary to make prudent purchasing and divestment decisions.
• Launched an initiative for supporters to send holiday cards to Iranian President Ahmadinejad asking him to end the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. UANI delivered the holiday cards to the Iranian Mission to the United Nations in New York on January 12, 2009.
• Organized a protest in front of Fifth Avenue office building owned by Iranian front company and used to divert funds to Iran for its illicit weapons programs.
• Sponsored two events at the UN, a press conference and a panel discussion, featuring the UANI President and Advisory Board Members.
• Published an op-ed in the Washington Times on February 20, 2009 by UANI President Ambassador Mark D. Wallace.
• Published an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on September 22, 2008 by Ambassadors Richard Holbrooke, Dennis B. Ross, R. James Woolsey, and Mark D. Wallace.
• Building a coalition with groups from across the spectrum to create diverse and united opposition to Iran's nuclear aspirations.
• Compiles and distributes Eye on Iran, a daily summary of news clippings related to Iran.