UANI, NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, Iran180 Launch IranWatchList.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 29, 2012 Contact: Nathan Carleton, press@uani.com Phone: (212) 554-3296 UANI, NYC Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, Iran180 Launch IranWatchList.com New Website Unveiled Prior to Next Week's New York City Auto Show New York, NY - Today, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) and Iran180 joined New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio at a Manhattan press conference, to announce the launch of a new website, IranWatchList.com, and a corresponding consumer action campaign to pressure companies that do business in Iran. The campaign's first targets are 12 carmakers that continue to sell vehicles in Iran--including to Iran's military--despite the latest round of economic sanctions. Many of these companies will promote themselves at the New York Auto Show, beginning next week. The 12 automakers displayed in the Watch List's "Virtual Showroom" are Fiat, Isuzu, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, Suzuki, Toyota and Volvo. Combined, they sell more than 650,000 vehicles per year in the country--making it the second-largest sector of Iran's economy. Despite escalating sanctions, the automotive sector in Iran continues to grow in large part due to these companies' investments. Said UANI CEO, Ambassador Mark D. Wallace: We applaud the Public Advocate for informing NYC consumers that some of the car companies vying for their dollars are doing irresponsible business with the Iranian regime. These automakers are regrettably supporting the regime by serving as a massive source of revenue, and as a means for it to access advanced technologies and products for its military and security forces. It is time for foreign auto companies to stop enriching the regime and empowering its agents of repression and terrorism. Automakers must end their Iran business now. UANI has regularly led campaigns to compel automakers to leave Iran including against Karsan, Nissan,Fiat, Mazda, Peugeot and GM. After extensive discussions with UANI, Karsan agreed to end its Iran business. 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. The Iranian auto industry is dominated by the regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The IRGC is a notorious misuser of Western technology, using vehicles imported or license-built by Volvo, Iveco (Fiat), Mercedes (Daimler) and Toyota as mobile platforms to stage public executions or transport ballistic missiles. Honda and Suzuki motorcycles are used by Basij militia. Iran's two largest automakers, the Iran Khodro Group and the Saipa Group, are both subsidiaries of the Iranian Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO), an entity sanctioned by both the U.S. and EU. Additionally, Iran's third largest auto-manufacturer, the Bahman Group, is 45.5% owned by the IRGC. Through IranWatchList.com, visitors can contact the companies using social media. UANI has sent letters to a number of these auto companies, calling on them to sign an "Iran Business Declaration" to immediately cease their operations in Iran. Click here to read the UANI DRIVE Act. Click here to visit IranWatchList.com. Click here to view UANI's Auto Campaign page. ### 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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