UANI Renews Its Call for Rio Tinto to End Its Business with the Iranian Government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 14, 2011 Contact: Kimmie Lipscomb, press@unitedagainstnucleariran.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Renews Its Call for Rio Tinto to End Its Business with the Iranian Government New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) on Thursday responded to Rio Tinto's attempt to defend its co-ownership with the Iranian Government of the Rossing uranium mine. In a letter to UANI, Rio Tinto failed to address Iran's 15% ownership of the Rossing mine, and instead argued that Iran's share was acquired in 1975, prior to the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Such an argument in no way addresses UANI's immediate concern that a regime attempting to enrich uranium for the purposes of a nuclear weapon maintains direct ownership in a mine that produces uranium. Rio Tinto must sever its ties with the Iranian Government. Rio Tinto currently owns a majority stake in the Rossing uranium mine in Namibia, while the Iran Foreign Investment Company (IFIC) owns a 15% stake in the same mine. The IFIC is wholly owned by the Iranian government. UANI is concerned that Rio Tinto has failed to address specific provisions of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA) and renews its call on Rio Tinto and Rossing to sever ties with the Iranian Government or risk debarment from U.S. government contracting and a ban by U.S. nuclear regulatory agencies. In a letter to Jan du Plessis, the Chairman of the Rio Tinto Group, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace wrote: Thank you for the letter of November 8, 2010 from the Rio Tinto Group ("Rio Tinto"). While your letter attempts to address some of the concerns raised about Iran's investment in the Rossing uranium mine in Namibia, the largest issue - the current Iranian government's 15 percent stake - remains outstanding and is of serious concern to United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and many within the international community. In your November 8th letter, you dismiss the concerns raised by UANI because the government of Iran initially acquired its share in the Rossing mine in 1975, four years prior to the establishment of the Islamic Republic. This fact is not relevant in 2011 when the government that has been profiting from the mine for over three decades is one that is pursuing an illegal nuclear weapons program, sponsoring terrorism in the region, and engaging in a brutal campaign of repression against its own citizens. As you are no doubt aware, circumstances (including governments) change and it is incumbent on policy-makers, responsible corporations, and the international community to respond to present day realities. **** When the United Nations passed Security Council Resolution 1929 this past summer, it did so because it recognized that the Iranian government's investments in uranium mines pose a threat to international peace and security. The steps Rio Tinto has taken to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear know-how, access to the facility, etc., are insufficient. As noted in UANI's October 21st letter to Rio Tinto, Iranians have access to the facility, sit on the board, and are able to acquire valuable technical knowledge which can be used in Iran to advance Iran's nuclear weapons program. **** Further, UANI is also concerned that you have failed to address the specific provisions of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA) signed into law on July 1, 2010 by President Obama. **** UANI renews its call on Rio Tinto and Rossing to sever ties with any entity directly or indirectly representing the Iranian government. Should Rio Tinto refuse, UANI will call for Rio Tinto to be formally debarred from U.S. government contracting. In addition, UANI will call on all relevant nuclear regulatory agencies and entities in the United States to cease any and all business with Rio Tinto and Rossing. Click here to read UANI's reply to Rio Tinto. Click here to read Rio Tinto's response to UANI. Click here to read the full text of UANI's original letter to Rio Tinto. Click here to call on Rio Tinto to end its dealings with Iran. # # # 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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