UANI Calls on Japanese Conglomerate Hitachi to End Its Business in Iran

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 4, 2011 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Calls on Japanese Conglomerate Hitachi to End Its Business in Iran New York, NY - On Thursday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on Japanese high technology conglomerate Hitachi to end its business in Iran. Hitachi maintains an active presence in Iran, having provided Iran with gas turbines and induction motors used in its oil and gas sector. In correspondence with the SEC, Hitachi has openly acknowledged that it has profited from business activities in Iran. At the same time, Hitachi has extensive business ties with the U.S. government, receiving $56 million since 2000. Moreover, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, a global nuclear alliance between General Electric and Hitachi, has received more than $150 million from the U.S. government since just 2007. In a letter to Hitachi executives, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, called on Hitachi to end its business in Iran and stop earning profits from its work in Iran. Said Ambassador Wallace: Hitachi's involvement and cooperation with Iran's energy sector is of particular concern to UANI. As you may know, Iran's energy sector is largely controlled by Iranian government entities or groups with ties to WMD procurement. *** A number of companies have pulled out of Iran to send a strong message to Iran that the international community will no longer tolerate Iran's reckless behavior. The list of companies that have made this decision includes a number of Hitachi's partners and competitors including General Electric, Terex, Caterpillar, and Bobcat. *** All of these companies made the responsible decision to help put pressure on Iran to change its ways and forego the pursuit of short-term profits. It is time for Hitachi to do the same. The Iranian threat not only imperils the region but the entire nuclear nonproliferation regime, and it is incumbent on all of us, governments and corporations alike, to take concrete steps to oppose it. Hitachi has at least two authorized distributors in Iran that prominently feature Hitachi's logo and products on their web pages. Hitachi has also installed ten highly advanced H-25 gas turbines in Iran since 2007 (Hitachi Website. "Thermal Power Systems: Experience") and over 17 induction motors for industrial plants in the energy industry since 2006 (Hitachi Website. "Induction Motor. Supply Record: Iran"). A number of Hitachi's end-users in Iran have been listed as entities of potential concern for WMD procurement. Click here to send a message to Hitachi. Click here to read the full text of the letter to Hitachi. ###

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.