UANI Calls for MTN to End its Business in Iran, and for Business Community to Divest from MTN

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 5, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Calls for MTN to End its Business in Iran, and for Business Community to Divest from MTN In New Letter, UANI Responds to MTN's Recent Defense of its Work in Iran New York, NY - On Monday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) called on the South African telecommunications firm MTN to pull out of Iran, and for investors and institutions to divest themselves of business with MTN unless it ends its partnership with the Iranian regime. UANI is continuing its MTN campaign, after MTN sent UANI a letter implausibly claiming that MTN, an actual business partner of the Iranian regime, is "a liberating force for Iranians." UANI launched its MTN campaign on January 30, 2012, with a letter and advertisements detailing MTN's partnership with the Iranian regime. As UANI explained, MTN Irancell is the second largest mobile phone network operator in Iran, and 51% of its shares are owned by the Iranian regime. The regime uses MTN Irancell to monitor and track Iranian dissidents, and MTN reportedly ordered the suspension of text messaging and Skype during protests against the fraudulent Iranian presidential elections in 2009. In response, MTN sent UANI a letter on February 24 which refuted none of UANI's information, but stated that MTN is "proud" of its work in Iran and "a liberating force for Iranians." MTN also stated that it "seeks to ensure that our corporate values of respect for human rights are reflected in the way we do business and we expect all our partners to adhere to these fundamental principles." In a February 29 letter to MTN Group President and CEO Sifiso Dabengwa, Ambassador Wallace wrote: United Against Nuclear Iran ("UANI") is in receipt of MTN Group Ltd.'s ("MTN") letter dated February 24, 2012. Unfortunately, MTN's response is unsatisfactory in its substance and indicates that MTN is seemingly oblivious to the massive human rights crisis currently ongoing in Iran. The letter also fails to address a number of serious issues raised in UANI's letter of January 25,2012. **** MTN's February 24th letter states that "MTN seeks to ensure that our corporate values of respect for human rights are reflected in the way we do business and we expect all our partners to adhere to these fundamental principles [emphasis added]."Yet MTN is a 49% shareholder of MTN Irancell, and the majority 51% is in turn owned by the Iranian regime. This means that MTN's "partner" in MTN Irancell is the Iranian regime. MTN cannot credibly contend that the Iranian regime shows a sufficient "respect for human rights" in light of the heinous human rights violations described above. In addition, given MTN's relationship with the regime, MTN's assertion that it is a "liberating force," "enriching the lives" of Iranians is completely untenable. MTN cannot reasonably assert that the substantial profits it earns from its growing role in the Iranian telecommunications market are merely a byproduct of a larger altruistic goal to empower the citizens of Iran and the developing world. If MTN was truly interested in empowering the Iranian people, it would not partner with the regime that oppresses them, and it would surely not carry out orders from the regime to shut off communications during times of popular protest. **** In light of reports regarding the nature of MTN's partners in MTN Irancell and MTN's corrupt entry into the Iranian market, UANI insists MTN take this opportunity to reconsider its collaboration with the regime and immediately take steps to end its Iran business. Please be advised that UANI will take any and all action to ensure MTN takes such action, including by contacting MTN customers, shareholders and affiliated partners. MTN's direct partnership with sanctions-designated Iranian entities and complicity in the regime's heinous human rights violations are exposing MTN, its investors and other stakeholders to serious and irrevocable reputational harm. In an additional statement today, UANI President, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace said: We call on all investors and institutions to divest themselves of business with MTN. We will pursue this campaign unless and until MTN ceases its complicity with the Iranian regime. As part of its Tech and Telecom campaign, UANI has targeted telecommunications providers that are active in Iran. In December, the Chinese firm Huawei scaled back its business in Iran under pressure from UANI. Click here to read UANI's full February 29 letter to MTN. Click here and here to see UANI's MTN advertisements. Click here to send a message to MTN. ### 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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