UANI Issues Statement Following SWIFT’s Announcement to Discontinue Services to EU-Sanctioned Iranian Financial Institutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 15, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI Issues Statement Following SWIFT's Announcement to Discontinue Services to EU-Sanctioned Iranian Financial Institutions New York, NY - United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, issued the following statement Thursday regarding SWIFT's announcement that it will "discontinue its communications services to Iranian financial institutions that are subject to European sanctions," beginning Saturday at 16:00 GMT: UANI applauds SWIFT for making the correct decision. The Iranian regime should not have access to the international financial system, and this is a significant step in the right direction. We continue to call on SWIFT to discontinue financial services to Iranian financial institutions that are also subject to U.S. sanctions, several of which the EU has not itself designated. Ultimately and as soon as possible, SWIFT must disconnect all Iranian financial institutions, given that the Iranian regime will obviously try to use non-designated banks to circumvent these regulations. SWIFT must comply with U.S. law. We accordingly also call on U.S. lawmakers to sanction all Iranian banks. In order to implement the most robust sanctions in history, Iran should be cut off from the international banking system. Responsible countries and institutions must comply with the international banking blockade on Iran. UANI launched its SWIFT campaign in January, submitting a detailed legal explanation to SWIFT, international banking and regulatory officials, and U.S. lawmakers, showing how SWIFT was in violation of U.S. and EU sanctions--as well as its own bylaws--by affording Iranian banks BICs and access to the SWIFT system. UANI also sent its analysis to individual members of SWIFT's Board of Directors, stating that "SWIFT jeopardizes its good reputation if it continues its work with Iran's financial institutions." That week, members of the U.S. Senate drafted and introduced an amendment that would sanction SWIFT. SWIFT, after initially defending its work with Iran, subsequently pledged to "find the right multilateral legal framework which will enable SWIFT to address the issues." UANI has also been in consultations with international banking regulatory officials, after calling on regulators to "take immediate action to ensure SWIFT's compliance with applicable U.S. and EU sanctions law and to ensure that SWIFT complies with its own rules related to corporate governance and membership eligibility." Click here to read UANI's original letter to SWIFT. ### 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.

Forward email American Coalition Against Nuclear Iran | 45 Rockefeller Plaza | New York | NY | 10111