UANI Calls on Nissan, Renault to Account for Renault's Business in Iran
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UANI Calls on Nissan, Renault to Account for Renault's Business in Iran
New York, NY -United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) continued its Nissan campaign Wednesday by calling on Nissan and Renault to explain and account for Renault's ongoing business activities in Iran, where Renault is the second-most prolific automaker. Renault owns a 43.4% share of Nissan, is highly active in the Iranian auto industry, and is in partnership with regime-controlled entities.
When previously questioned about its business in Iran, Renault simply and callously stated that "Sanctions do not apply to the automotive sector."
Renault's Iranian partners include Iran Khodro, Saipa Group, Automotive Industry Development Company (AIDCO), and the Industrial Development and Renovation Organization of Iran (IDRO). Renault Pars, an Iranian-Renault joint venture established in 2004, is headquartered in Tehran and responsible for securing and maintaining Renault's position as the second-most prolific foreign automaker in Iran.
In a letter to Carlos Ghosn, Chairman & CEO of both Renault S.A and Nissan Motors Co, Ltd., UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, wrote:
UANI is particularly concerned that Renault, through its extensive partnership with IDRO, is doing business with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ("IRGC"), the brutal and corrupt apparatus in Iran that directs the regime's nuclear weapons program and terrorist activities across the globe. IDRO is an Iranian regime-controlled entity blacklisted by the U.S., UK and EU for its activities in a wide range of nuclear and military activities. Moreover, IRGC commander Rostam Ghasemi currently holds a position on IDRO's Board of Directors. In August 2010, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control ("OFAC") formally sanctioned Mr. Ghasemi. ...
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...[T]hrough the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Renault owns a 43.4% share of Nissan Motor Company ("Nissan"). As you know, UANI and its supporters find Nissan's Iran business particularly disturbing in light of the fact that Nissan is expected to receive approximately USD 1 billion as part of New York City's "Taxi of Tomorrow" program. Under the terms of the contract, Nissan will manufacture up to 26,000 new vehicles for New York City over the next ten years. New York taxpayer dollars should not benefit a corporation, like Nissan, that partners with a regime that is the world's number one state sponsor of terror and has formed an alliance with al-Qaeda.
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Renault can be part of this global solution by following the lead of other companies and ending its business activities in Iran. In so doing, Renault can play an important role in denying funding to the IRGC as well as encouraging the regime in Tehran to change course from the dangerous path it is currently pursuing.
In conjunction with this week's New York International Auto Show, UANI is renewing its calls for Nissan, the recipient of a $1 billion contract to manufacture NYC's "Taxi of Tomorrow," to immediately end its business in Iran and sever its ties to dangerous Iranian regime entities.
Today, UANI joined New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind, and Iran180 at a press conference outside the auto show to highlight Nissan's business in Iran.
Additionally, UANI has developed model legislation, The DRIVE Act, to force auto manufacturers to choose between American taxpayers and the regime. The DRIVE Act requires automakers to certify they are not engaged in any business in Iran, or engaged in the implementation of any agreement with Iranian entities in order to be eligible for U.S. government contracts or financial assistance.
Click here to read UANI's full letter to Nissan and Renault today.
Click here to read UANI's letter to Nissan earlier this week.
Click here to send a message to Nissan and Renault.
Click here to view UANI's 2011 newspaper ad about Nissan.
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Eye on Iran is a news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a section 501(c)(3) organization. Eye on Iran is available to subscribers on a daily basis or weekly basis.